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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
as it is found that nurses trained locally are sufficiently well trained to be able to take their place,- (Applause),
April 28, 1897.
Hospital and the Nursing Institute is con- cerned. When this Hospital is ready we can take in more probationera and these proba- Mr. FRANCIS thought the resolutions em. tioners would be educated in this new Hospital. braced too much. It was estimated that the The balance of $50,000 would go a long way public would subscribe $50,000 and the Govern- towards carrying on the road from Belcher's ment would offer $50,000 more. The estimated Bay to Aberdeen and the Governor says in his cost of the construction of the hospital for wo letter that by degrees that road would be com men and children was $50,000; there was no-pleted by the Government. If you attempt to thing in the report about the cost of separate the two schemes I fear you will cause a upkeep. It was further estimated that the schism in the whole community. There are cost of the training institute would be $32,000. gentlemen who are very strongly of opinion and the cost of maintenance about $8,000 that the road should be taken in hand at or $9,000. These two schemes would swallow once in celebration of the sixtieth year of Her up the whole of the Committee's funds, as the Majesty's reign, and there are others who are estimates were sure to be exceeded and there equally as strong in the opinion that the would be nothing left for the road. He cer- hospital should be taken in hand. By tainly thought the Committee had no authority doing what we propose we shall not only for making proposals which involved the future please Her Majesty, but we satisfy the commu- taxation of this colony, and the Committee nity and we do honour to the colony. If you were practically pledging the community to divide the schemes I fear your subscriptions future taxation. The whole cost of the road will be small, and probably not one of the pro- would fall upon the Government and it would jects will come to anything. have to be provided for by increased taxation.
clear idea of the advantages to be obtained from" each of the schemes that he has just submitted," and I feel convinced in my own mind that there is nothing more, appropriate, or more popular with the citizens of Hongkong than the projects which have just been submitted by Mr. Whitehead. (Applause.) We all know the great interest that Her Majesty takes in the hospitals at home. No doubt they have been brought very prominently before her and we all know that she takes a very deep interest in the sufferings and the well being of her loyal subjects. (Applause.) I may also be permitted to say that everything that tends to promote the health and the comfort of her loyal subjects she is also equally alive to and equally ready to support and give her kindness to and I think the making of a road is a matter that commends itself very strongly to the people of Hongkong. (Ap. plause). We have only one decent road in the colony for carriages and that is out to Shaukiwan, and I think that if we have a road going out to the southern part of the colony it would serve as an outlet not only for the The HON. SECRETARY-Not necessarily. Europeans but to the Chinese, who may Mr FRANCIS said it was not necessarily the seek a little fresh air after the toils and case, but everyone knew sufficiently about how burdens of the day are over. They want a things were managed to know that it would be little refreshing breeze, as we all know made the object of additional taxation. There that Chinatown is very much cramped would be an increased expenditure of about and there is very little to be met there in the $20,000 a year and that would be subjected to shape of fresh air: Here on the north side of 17 per cent. for the Military Contribution. the island the air certainly does not circulate The total cost of the road would be about with that freedom that it does on the south | $225,000 and it would be constructed bit by bit; ́side, and I think, that anyone who has made a
so that those who had contributed towards its trip to the south part of the island will bear construction would not have an opportunity of me out in saying that the air there is most enjoying it. He thought it was better that conducive to health. It is bracing and more the $100,000 should be devoted to one particular strengthening than that we get upon the north object. He also thought that before the public side. The Civil Hospital, I may mention, is were asked to subscribe towards the hospital and edit to this colony. I do not think the nursing institute a definite plan should you can go to any city in England and be submitted to them. He moved the following find a hospital conducted on, better principles amendment "That the amount subscribed by than the Civil Hospital in Hongkong, the community and the money to be granted by Everything is done to promote the comfort and the Government be applied exclusively toward bring speedy relief to the sufferer. The patients the construction of the hospital for women and meet with the best of attention and they receive children and for the erection of an institute for the greatest care at the hands of the medical the training of nurses, the Government pledg- advisers, and if you look round you will seeing themselves for the maintenance of both.” that the whole building is kept scrupulously olean and in a better condition, I think, than any hospital at home. In regard to the nursing institute, I think that will supply a want that has long been felt in Hongkong. We certainly know the great benefit of having a female nurse at our bedside in time of sickness and trouble. In the old days when a China boy used to hand you the medicine you were always afraid to accept it; you did "not know whether he was giving you the medicine the doctor had ordered, neither did you know that he was giving it at the proper time. Now all this is changed and the ladies at the hospital are almost as good as a medical man himself. They follow the instructions of the medical man and are able to render very great service indeed and their kindness and attention tend very much towards the speedy recovery of the patient. I would also remark that I think that all the three projects submitted by Mr. Whitehead have received more general support than any of the other schemes. We have seen more written on these three schemes than on any other pro- ject, and I think, judging from that, it proves that the community are more in favour of The CHAIRMAN-It has a very important having this road and the hospital and train bearing as I shall show you. The other half ing institute for nurses carried out than will go towards the commencement of the new any of the other projects that have road, the Government undertaking to finish been submitted. I therefore have very the road by degrees. With regard to the nurs- little further to say. I think that the gooding institute, probably you may all have ob- points of these projects have been very favour- ably put before you in the. Press and I have now very great pleasure in seconding the re- solutions submitted by the Hon. Mr. White- head. (Applause).
Mr. EDE asked if the nurses were going to be available for the public, because if the nursing institute was going to be on the same principle as the Civil Hospital and managed by the Civil Hospital, how were the community going to get the nurses?
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The HON. SECRETARY It is the intention of the Government to obtain nurses from home who will be available for nursing among the general public, and the services of these nurses will be retained until such time
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Hon. E R. BELILIOS suggested that the subscribers should give to what object they preferred-either the hospital or the road.
He sug
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD said perhaps it would be as well, with a view to obtaining unanimity, if the consideration of the resolu tions were deferred for eight days.
Mr FRANCIS again read his amendment and said that when the Chairman referred to the hospital and the nursing institute he thought the two institutions mentioned in the report were meant."
The CHAIRMAN-What I meant is that whe- the the two: institutions are going to cost $100,000 or $180,000, we only pledge ourselves to give half of what we get, including the sum from the Government.
Mr. FRANCIS said there was no security in that. Let the money be applied to completion. of something and do not let it depend upon the whims of future Governors or future Directors of Public Works.
The CHAIRMAN thought the letter of His Ex- cellency the Governor was a sufficient security.. Mr. CRAWFORD seconded Mr. Francis's amendment on the ground that the project Mr. Francis had mentioned would be more pleasing to Her Majesty.
T'he amendment was then put and lost by 13 votes to 4.
Mr. SMITH then proposed an amendment that the road scheme only be adopted.
Hou., R. BELILIOS Becorded.
The amendment was lost, only four voting in favour of it,
Mr. THURBURN said the difficulty could be easily got over. The road was mainly a public work, and it was not yet even known how much the public would subscribe.
Hon. T H WHITEHEAD's resolutions gested that the hospital and the nursing in- were then put and carried; only two-Mr. stitute be first paid for and if there was any Francis and Mr. Mehta-voted against them. money left it could be handed over to the The CHAIRMAN then read the following Government to go towards the cost of the road.letters he had received from various sections of If there was no money left the Government the community—- would no doubt begin the road.
Hon. F. H. MAY thought some confusion had arisen. Did the Chairulan mean to limit the memorial to two proposals-one the hospital and the other the first section of the road ?
The CHAIRMAN-In my opening remarks what I meant, was that out of the total sum we collect, including the amount contributed by the Government, we shall devote one half, what ever that half may be, to the building of a hospital and the nursing institute is to be worked in conjunction with this hospital.
Mr. FRANCIS That has nothing to do with the hospital.
served in the papers which were printed that the Government have as far back as October last taken this matter of nursing in hand; in fact they have already started in a small way
la nursing institute and at the present moment we have it in Dr. Atkinson's evidence. He says We have probationers in the nursing institute and they are trained in the Civil Hospital." What I pointed out to his Excellency vas that the Government had seen the necessity for the Institute and had taken the matter in hand by having probationers in the Hospital, and by having more nurses from home those ladies would help to educate more probationers to carry on nursing in the colony. That is as far as the
Dear Sir, I have the authority of all Ger- man firms residing in, this colony to inform you of their desire to offer their heartiest co-opera- tion in any scheme to be decided upon to cele brate the 60th year of Her Majesty's reign, and I beg to request you kindly to communicate this to your Committee.-I am, &c.,
Hongkong, 17th April, 1897.
M. GROTE.
Dear Sir, Permit.me, on behalf of myself and the greater number of the seniors among the Portuguese residents in this colony, whom I have had the opportunity of consulting, to assure you that they are prepared to co-operate with your Committee and with the community generally in celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen Empress. We entertain for Her Majesty the highest admira- tion and respect and most fully appreciate, the beneficent rule under which we live.
I consider the Portuguese community would be failing in their duty if they should allow this opportunity to pass by without tendering their warmest congratulations on this occasion, as their interests are, in many ways, closely connected with the prosperity of this colony, and without acknowledging with gratitude the many benefits and blessings derived from a good and peaceful government.-I am, &c.,
A. G. ROMANO.
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Hongkong, 10th April, 1897.
Sir,-In the public rejoicings in celebration of the 60th year of the reign of Her Gracious Majesty Queen Victoris, shortly to take place