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To my great delight this new hospital is now ready for service, and though away from the business centre, it is accessible from all parts of the island in a short space of time.
I hope the St. John Ambulance Brigade will find that its medical work will be more satisfactorily and more efficiently carried out in this new building.
In conclusion, I thank the Kaifong and the inhabitants of this island for according me with such an impressive welcome".
Before opening the hospital Mrs. Borrett said:
"We have just listened with great interest to an account of how the Au Par Hospital, Cheungchau, came to be built, and I feel sure this must be a very happy occasion, as indeed it should be, for the inhabitants of this Island, and more specially the women, in the knowledge that they now have such a splendid and up-to-date clinic at their very doors, where so much pain and suffering can be successfully alleviated.
FRIEND AND BENEFACTOR
They have indeed, found a good friend and benefactor in Mr. Aw Boon-haw, who, I am informed, has to a very large extent been responsible for the erecting of the building you see before you. He has contributed no less a sum than $44,500 towards it.
From what we are told of his great generosity in the cause of suffering humanity, in this and a number of other places in China, the Straits Settlements and Java, we may in truth say of him, that he is never weary in well doing.
Mr. Ip Kwai-chung has also ably assisted in raising (in connexion with the St. John Ambulance Association), the sum of $10,000 towards the building of this hospital, by means of theatrical entertainments at the Ko Shing Theatre, Flag Days, etc.
He is to be warmly congratulated on the result of the efforts.
I feel sure that both these gentlemen, in conjunction with the many others who have generously contributed in various ways, must experience a glow of pride and satisfaction as their gaze alights on the complete building, as it stands to-day!
DEEPLY HONOURED
I can assure you, I feel deeply honoured on receiving Sir William Shenton's letter, written on behalf of the Hongkong Branch of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, requesting me to perform the opening ceremony of the Aw Par Hospital, and furthermore, when subsequently, His Excellency the Governor, asked that I should present the silver and bronze donats awarded to Mr. Aw Boon-haw and Mr. Ip Kwai-chung, respectively by the Grand Prior and Chapter General of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, at this ceremony.
I shall now have pleasure in doing so."
Mrs. Borrett invested Mr. Aw Boon-haw and Mr. Ip Kwai-chung, with the medallions amid great applause, after which she was presented with the gold key and cushion by Mrs. Langley on behalf of the St. John Ambulance Brigade and Nurses.
After the presentations had been made, a brief history of the hospital was read by Mrs. Langley, and the hospital was declared opened by Mrs. Borrett.
Mrs. Langley's speech was as follows:-