I think it is that the Committee are obviously the proper persons to receive the money and I would tell the Governor to pay it to them.
Sir J. P. Hennessy supported his view by referring to an expression of Sir R. Macdonnell's. Before sanctioning the first payment option in 1869, Sir R.M. enquired whether admission was to be free. Having satisfied himself on that point, he said he saw no objection to the payment of the sum only to the Committee.
But apart from the question whether the other gentlemen as well as Mr. Myrie were not then members of the Committee, I do not think that this is to be taken as obviously indicating Sir R. Macdonnell's opinion that the money ought to be paid to the Committee and not to anybody else.
Thirdly, with regard to the conditions upon which the grant shall be continued: Sir M. Hicks-Beach suggested that the free opening of the Museum (i.e., the opening of it to Chinese & Europeans in common, without having certain hours for Chinese and certain hours for Europeans, for admission is already free as regards payment) should be tried for some months. The Committee have demurred pending Lord Kimberley's reply to their Letter of 13 May (at which date they did not know of Sir M. Hicks-Beach's suggestion), in which they gave the reasons for the present regulations.
Dec.
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