themselves so strongly felt that it is very doubtful
162
whether if the private nursing is not taken over by the
Government, it will continue to exist in Hongkong.
8.
The terms on which it is proposed
that the funds of the Association now amounting to some
$18,000 are to be transferred to the Government are, as
will be seen from the correspondence enclosed, as follows:-
(1). The Government to draw on the Guarantee Fund
of the Institution up to its full amount for the necessary
initial expenditure including the provision and fitting up
of quarters adjoining the Staff Quarters of the Government
Civil Hospital and the payment of passages if necessary.
(2). On the quarters being ready for occupation
the Government to engage the services of 2 nursing sisters
on the same terms as those on which the Government nursing
sisters are at present serving, but the engagement to be
for private nursing with the condition that after three
years wholly satisfactory service a sister shall be offered
the first vacancy that may occur on the hospital nursing
staff of the Colony.
(3). As soon as the Government Nursing Sisters
are available the Hongkong Nursing Institution to cease to
exist, the balance of its funds, if any, being transferred
to the Government.
(4). Either or both the nurses in the employ of
the Institution at the time Government takes over its work to be given the option of being transferred to Government employ under the conditions mentioned in (2) above, any time they have already served being counted towards the 3 years referred to in that condition. Failing their acceptance