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ĦB HONGKONG DAILY PRESÈ
15th September, 1916.
THE HELENA MAY INSTITUTE,
WOMEN.
FOR
OPENED BY LADY MAY.
SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR.
the
The Helena May Institute for Women was opened by Lady May last evening. with a golden key, in the presence of a large
and representative gathering. Those present included:H.E. Governor and Lady May; Miss May; the Bishop of Victoria (Dr. Lander); Sir William and Lady Rees Davies; the Colonial Secretary (Hon. Mr. Claud Severn); the Hon. Mr. J. H. Kemp (Attorney-General) and Mrs. Kemp; the Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock, K.C., and Mrs. Pollock; Mrs. Edkins; Sir Robert and Lady Ho Tung; the Hon. Mr. Lau Chu' Pak, Mr. E. Relphs, etc., along with the two generous donors, Mr. Ellis Kadoorie and Mr. Ho Kom Tong.
Speaking from the steps of the build- ing, Mr. Họ Kom Tond said:—four Excellency, Lady May, ladies and gentle- men,It is a pleasure as well as an honour to me to be the spokesman on this occasion on behalf of Mr. Kadoorie and the others of us who have made our selves responsible for the purchase of this site and the erection, furnishing and part endowment of this building. It is only far to say at once that the brunt of the burden has been shouldered by Mr. Kadoorie, who has, from the beginning, devoted himself heart and soul to the completion of the project, and he there- fore deserves the lion's share of the credit. (Applause.) Now let me explain what the project is, and how it originat- ed,
Early in 1914 the gracious lady whose name this Institute is to bear, Lady May, interested herself in the move- inent for the foundation of a hostel for Wother, the need for which had long been felt, and Mr. Kadoorie, ou his own initiative, made his first generous offer which brought the scheme at once within the range of practical politics, stipulat- ing only that if the funds required were secured and a building were erected it. should be called after Lady May.. (Applause.) He felt, as we all foel, that in asking her to allow her name to be associated with the Institute the honour was hers not to receive but to bestow. (Applause.) In fact, we are all glad that
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an opportunity has been the 16 bringing into existence some tangible and permanent manifestation of the high esteem and affectionate regard in which her Ladyship is held in this Colony (applause) and I venture to think that this handsome, building upon the portal of which her name is to remain in per- petuity, bids fair to be emblematic of her all-embracing sympathy and kindly concern for the welfare of every one with whom she is brought in contact. (Applause.) In its inception, no doubt the paramount idea was to provide heal- quarters for working women either re- sident, in. or passing through, the Colony, on the lines of similar places to be found in Colombo, Singapore and elsewhere in the East. But as the scheme took shape, and this site was found, it became clear that something rather more ambitious, and, at the same time, more comprehensive in its scope might with advantage be undertaken-an Institute that would offer to all alike opportunities of social intercourse, mutual helpfulness, improvement and recreation. I believe all formalities in connection with the legal transfer of the site and building to the "Helena May Institute for Women, with Lady May as the rst President, have already been completed. The furnishing and equipment of the building have been considerably delayed by the difficulties of obtaining various articles from England under present con- ditions of shipping, but to all intents and purposes the Institute is now complete and ready for the purpose for which it is intended. It is a great pleasure to all of us who have been associated in its promotion to see the result of our efforts so satisfactorily attained, a result for which we owe a special debt of gratitude to our architect, Mr. Ram, and I now leave it to Mr. Kadooric, to whom this special privilege undoubtedly belongs, to make the formal presentation of the key of the building to His Excellency Sir Henry May, whom it is our delight to honour. (Applause.)
Mr. Ellis KADOORIE, in handing the key to the Governor, said: Your Excel- leney, I am proud to have the privilege of handing you this key, with which I ask your Excellency to be graciously pleased to open this Institute, which I
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