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a large sum was raised for the purpose of build. ing an annexe to the main hospital and an institution for, the treatment of infectious diseases. Your Excellency laid the foundation stone of the former building two years ago. It is now nearing completion, and we trust that you may preside over its opening. Lack of funds has prevented the Hospital from proceeding with both works simultane ously; but an invitation for subscriptions addressed by us this year to the Chinese com. munity has been answered with such liberality- a sum of $42,800 having been promised already --that we have felt justified in setting to work on the second building. The plans have been prepared by Mr. Harker and have been ap- proved by the Director of Public Works. I beg to submit for Your Excellency's inspection a drawing of the building. It will contaiu sîx wards and one convalescent ward capable of accommodating 68 patients, and ample provision has been made for offices, stores, and attendants' quarters. We shall now do our utmost to meet Your Excellency's wishes and hasten its com- pletion. (Applause.)
After inspecting the plan of the new hospital, His Excellency was presented with a silver trowel and black ivory mallet as souvenirs of the occasion. He then performed the formal function of laying the memorial stone, on which was engraved: This stone was laid by Sir Henry Arthur Blake, G.C.M.G.. Governor of the Colony of Hongkoug. 18th November, 1901." The lowering of the stone into position was signalised by the firing of buuches of crackers on the road beneath.
Turning then to those assembled around, His EXCELLENCY Baid-Ladies and gentlemen, in the name of human charity, the best of all the virtues, I proclaim this to be well and truly laid. (Applause.)
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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are
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are discommoded and irritated by the precau. tions that are being taken, but I ask you to remember that these precautions not
takon being the result of experiments made elsewhere, and which in other countries have been found to be efficacious. Plague is not a new disease. It has ravaged all the countries of Europe hundreds of years ago; it has swept away half the population in certain countries in Europe, and during its last visitation about two hundred years ago it literally swept away the entire population of many towns and villages in England. Smallpox has also caused terrible mortality in ye rs gone by. It took many, many years of thought and experiment to succeed in removing this dreadful disease in All these epidemic form from our midst. diseases have been controlled by the same measures that the Sanitary Board aro now attempting in Hongkong. There is nothing being done in Hongkong that would not done in London or Edinburgh or Glasgow, or in any town in England, if the conditions arose. I know that people who perhaps have not thought over the matter may be irritated at the line-washing and cleansing of their houses, which to their mind appear to be perfectly clean. I want to explain to the Chinese people that this disinfection and whitewashing of their houses is not an assnuption in any way that their houses are dirty; it is simply done because the germs of disease may exist in a house that appears to be quite clean, but that has not been gone over by disinfectants. I know how great the discomfort must be, and I roull ask the Chinese to remember that this duty which is being performed by the officers of the Sanitary Board is not a pleasant duty to them, and has been performed in many cases at the cost of their lives. I know-I believe-that the Chinese population of Hongkong give me credit for being anxious to do anything I can to improve their comfort and to improve their position, and I think they know that I would not either accept or propose any measure with reference to them that I considered needlessly difficult or that I did not consider was absolutely necessary for the safety of their lives. Over four thousand men, women, and children have been buried in the
[November 23, 1901.
whose wants have excited your pity, gentlemen, and that in the satisfaction of contemplation of this work, in the future, I have no doubt that one and all will realise that it is more blessed to give than to receive. (Applause.)
The eddress finished, His Excellency, on the invitation of Mr. Fung Wa Chun, who at the same time thanked him for the service ho had just performed, toasted the hospital in a glass of The new Tung champagne. His words were —" Wa Hospital, and the best toast I can think of in connection with it is Empty wards.'
The toast was responded to by the company with the enthusiasm it deserved.
HIS EXCELLENCY also proposed the health of Mr. Lai Chusu and the Directors of the Tung Wa Hospital.
The following particulars regarding the new hospital have already been published in our columns, but will doubtless be of interest on the present occasion :-
The site of the hospital adjoins the Govern- ment Infectious Diseases Hospital, and, when completed, the new institution will be devoted entirely to the recaption of Chinese patients. who up till now have for the most part been housed in matsheds during epidemics Being practically open on all sides, the site is emin ently suited for an hospital. The plans have been prepared, and the work is being supervised, by Mr. B. Brotherton Harker, architect, Hongkong. The new buildings will be in the Renaissance style of architecture, and the finished structure will have an imposing appearance. It will be of two stories throughout. From the main entrance, which opens into the reception hall, corridors lead to the three ward pavilions constituting the principal part of the hospital On the right and left of the grand entrance are the two administration blocks, containing doctors" rooms, dispensaries, offices and stores on the ground floor, and nurses' dormitories on the upper flat. In each of the pavilions there will be twenty beds-ten on each floor-so that accommodation will be given for sixty patients in all. Bat besides these, the convalescent ward will have seven or eight beds. The mortuary is to the south of main buildings and is connected with the wards by a covered way. On the same side are the kitchen. wash-house, servants' quarters, &c. The interior of the buildings will be executed in modern style, and plastered with Keene's cement. Ventilation, lighting, and sanitary arrangements are to be of the most approved kind. Present-day requirements will be met by the structural separation of the lavatories from the wards, as well as in many other minor respects. It is expected that the erection of the hospital will be completed in a little more than a year, and it may be added that ground is considerable extension of the available for a institution should it be desired.
want to stop this scourge, if it can be stopped by human agency. I believe, if the Chinese thonght over the matter, they would think with me on the subject, in spite of the inevitable discomfort. And when I tell them that nothing that has been done by the Sanitary Board has been done without my approval, I think they will understand that every thought has been given by everybody connected to the interests of the
Chinese population of Hongkong. I have said that the European and Chinese po, ulation of Hong- kong within the last two years have subscribed CRICKET WEEK FESTIVITIES. very largely for the various purposes of charity, and otherwise, but nevertheless I take this [FROM A LADY CORRESPONDENT.] opportunity of saying that
The cricket week has run its course, and it shall be obliged to come before the public of Hongkong and ask for yet another sub- seems impossible that anyone should scription in addition to the large amount sider its success as being less than absolute. already given. I have had a letter from the The weather too-that most important factor British Consul-General in Shanghai telling in these al fresco entertainments has been all me that in the Yangsze Valley, in consequence that could be desired, with the exception of of the late tremendons inundation, over one on the 12th. when the rain was doubtless caused million of the poor Chinese inhabitants are by the eclipse of the previous day. But even that starving. They have formed small foreign was a blessing, though a skilfully disguised committees to distribute the money, in conjunc-one, as the heavy rain cooled the atmosphere tion with the Chinese authorities, för the appreciably and so must have contributed a good On purpose of alleviating the distress as far as deal to the comfort of the cricketers. possible. The money is to be distributed by Monday the sun was really too hot for comfort paying for the daily labour of raising dams though it added to the brightness of the scene against future inundations, and an appeal on the field.
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When the applause ceased, HIS EXCEL LENCY, whose remarks were interpreted by the Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, continued-Mr. Lai Chuen, I congratulate you and the directors of the Tung Wa Hospital on having so far advanced in your arrangements for the building of this hospital as to have justified me in handing over the site to you. I do not forget the pleasant duty of laying the foundation stone of the ex- tension of the Tung Wa Hospital two years ago, and it, will be a great pleasure to me to assist at the opening of the hospital on its com-plague cemetery within the last three years. I pletion in the near future. The experience of the past two years has but deepened my ap preciation of the liberality and charity of the people of this Colony. For whatever purpose subscriptions were called for-the Tang Wa Hospital, the Typhoon Fund, the South African Fund, the Queen's Memorial Fund – the application has always been responded to with a liberality that has not been exceeded in I remember well how any part of the world. the people came forward in response to the application for the South African War Fund, and from that time to the present this com- munity has contributed to these various funds no less a sum than $433,000. A short time ago I had occasion to look over the figures, and I found that within the last year the people of Hongkong had contributed to charities outside the great charity that is always going on in connection with the Tung Wa Hospital-had contributed a sum equal to 5 per cent. of the total revenue of this Colony. No person who has gone through the trials of the last three years, during which this Colony has been Scourged with the plague, can fail to appre- ciate the great benefits that will accrue from such an hospital as this. I know with what care the unfortunate victims of the p'ague were treated in the matsheds that were erected close by. I know from personal inspection how carefully those matsheds and this hospital were conducted, and I Saw how patiently those poor victims bore their sufferings and awaited their fate; but no mat- sheds however carefully managed can be as efficient as such an hospital as is about to be erected here by the generosity of the Chinese population of Hongkong, and I can only hope that the time will never come again when the 68 beds to be provided here will all be required at the same time. In this connection I would like to say something to you, ge.tlemen, and through you to the Chinese people of Hong kong, upon the work now being performed by the Sanitary Board. I know that many people
con-
has been sent to me to ask the community A great many people came down to watch the of Hongkong to assist in this great. work opening match, especially in the afternoon. In of saving some of these poor Chinese peo-the Governor's tent was Mrs. Stewart Lock- ple. I do not believe that that appeal will hart, looking very charming in a white silk and be made in vain, and I intend to appoint a lace blouse with a large black and white picture committee in a few days to approach the people of Hongkong once more and to ask them to assist in raising this fund for the Chinese of the Yangtsze. I have no doubt whatever that in this, probably the wealthiest corner of China, a satisfactory addition will be made to the fund. And now I can only say-God grant that this hospital will be the means of ameliorating the condition of those poor victims of disease
hat. Mrs. Beresford Ash, in very pretty grey dress profusely trimmed with lace, was also there, and so were Lady Gascoigne and Lady Brownrigg, Mrs. Retallick, and several others. In the ladies' matshed I saw Mrs. Wilcress in a charming green dress trimmed with broad coffee-coloured lace, Mrs. Peter in a blue frieze skirt and pink silk blouse, Mrs. Saunders in dark blue with a white lawnes and lace collar,