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been, for years past, to provide such paupers with means to return to their native places on the mainland of China. He added, however, that occasionally they had to do with destitutes who had been here in Hong Kong for 30-40 years and who had no kindred or homes at all on the mainland and fall back upon the Government.
He occasionally been brought face to face with the same difficulty, narrated the details of the case mentioned within and stated the substance of his minutes thereon.
One member of the Deputation then remarked that the Government and Society long ago relieved many poor people, while they were old and infirm to maintain themselves otherwise than by begging. He remarked that the Directors willingly took such people into the Hospital when sick, but had great difficulty in getting rid of them after being cured as they had no home to go to.
His Excellency then said that the same difficulty had been experienced in Canton and met by the establishment of the Stome for Aged Persons of both sexes outside the Westgate of Canton city.
His Excellency replied that he had visited that institution and thought it a good example to follow, but that the matter ought to be first taken up in the first instance by...