f.
1
COPY.
Enclosure ! 2019.
1.
20
1 AUG 00
Hongkong, 16th.May, 1900.
Sir,
Adverting to my letter of the 25th.August last,
I have the honour to inform you that, in consequence of the
excessive amount of the tenders received from Contractors as
compared with the Architects Estimate, it has been found impracticable to carry out the scheme for the construction
of the Hospital and Nursing Institute in its entirety.
When this unfortunate state of affairs became
obvious to the Jubilee Committee I considered it desirable
in view of the deqarture on a holiday of His Excellency the
Governor, Sir Henry Blake and the probability that his locum
tenens, Major-General Gascoigne,would feel unable to deal
with it to lay the matter before His Excellency.
Accordingly, Sir Thomas Jackson and myself
had an interview with Sir Henry Blake on the 2nd. April last
and submitted a statement showing that the Committee were in
a position to construct the Hospital and contingent Staff
Quarters on Barker Road but were unable for lack of funds
to carry out the Nursing Institute. Wing in High Street.
His Excellency agreed that under the circum-
stances the proper course for the Committee was to proceed at
once with the Hospital and Quarters on Barker Road and con-
tracts have since been entered into on behalf of the Com-
mittee for their erection.
The hope was further expressed that His Ex-
cellency would be good enough to recommend to the Secretary
HS HONOURABLE
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
of