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tion of Children, which is this day to be constituted. I am certain that, if the need should arise, the Legislative Council would be pre- pared to increase that Vote.
Chinese Support of Movement.
It is a source of immense satis- faction to me that the most pro- minent members of the Chinese community in this Colony, and parti- cularly the members of the District Watch Committee and the three Chinese members of the Legislative Council, have devoted all their energy to forming this Society. The drafting of the Constitution of the Society, which is to be put be- fore this meeting, was very largely the work of Dr. Tso, and with him was associated in this task Mr. T. M. Hazlerigg, who was a secretary of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in England, and whose knowledge of the working of the home Society has been and will, I am sure, con- tinue to be a great help to the Hong Kong Society.
This Society enters on its career with the best wishes, not only of the Hong Kong Government and the Hong Kong Legislative Council, but with the support of all citizens of this Colony, no matter to what com- munity they belong. It has many difficulties before it; but I have no doubt at all that these difficulties will be overcome, and I am very confident that the work of this Society will be more helpful in protecting mui tsai and in watch- ing over the welfare of children in this Colony than will be the methods of official registration at present relied upon.
I wish the Society all possible success, and I shall watch its pro- gress with the keenest interest, wherever I may be.
I now call upon the Hon. Sir Shou-son Chow to move the resolu- tion, standing in his name, for con- stituting the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children.
His Excellency's speech was then translated into Chinese by Mr. T. N. Chau.
Society Formed.
The Hon. Sir Shou-son Chow then moved: "That the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Child- ren be constituted." The Hon. Mr. J. P. Braga seconded the pro- posal which was carried unanimous- ly.
The Hon. Sir Shou-son Chow proposed and the Hon. Mr. E. R. Hallifax seconded, that the Con- stitution of the Society as printed by adopted."
The First Patrons.
The Hon. Sir Shou-son Chow then proposed that the first patrons of the Society should be His Excel- lency and Lady Clementi.
Sir Cecil Clementi said in reply: I thank you sincerely for having elected my wife and myself to be the first patrons of the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Child-
ren.
I now propose that the Hon. Sir Shou-son Chow, senior Chinese member of the Legislative Council, should be elected to be the first President of this Society. I am deeply grateful to my friend, Sir Shou-son, for consenting to be nominated to this post. In view of his venerable age, and of the multi- farious and heavy demands upon his time made by the civic duties which he has already undertaken, I feel that it is an act of the highest public spirit on his part to allow his name to be put forward for election to this office.
Sir Henry Pollock seconded, and the proposal was carried with ap- plause.
Election of Officers.
The following were elected Vice- Presidents:-The Hon. Sir Henry Pollock, K.C., the Hon. Mr. W. E. I L. Shenton, the Hon. Dr. R. H. Kotewall, C.M.G., the Hon. Mr. J.
Owen Hughes, the Hon. Dr. S. W. Tso, O.B.E., and the Hon. Mr. J. P. Braga.
The following were elected to the General Committee:-Sir Robert Ho Tung, Mr. Li Yau Tsun, Lady Pollock, Mr. Fung Ping Shan, Mrs. Kotewall, Mr. Ho Kom Tong, O.B.E., Mrs. S. W. Tso, Mr. Ip Lan Chuen, Mrs. Minett, Mr. Tong Yat Chuen, the Hon. Mr. A. C. Hynes, Mr. Mok Kon Sang, Mr. B. D. F. Beith, Mr. Wong Kwong Tin, Dean Swann, Mr. Wong Mau Lam, the Rev. L. Bianchio, Mr. Kwok Siu Lau, the Rev. RE Wells, O.B.E., Mr. B. Wong Tape, Mr. Hung Hing Kam, Mr. Shaw, Mr. Chan Heung Pak, Mr. Cock, Mr. Li Jowson, Mr. Coppin, Mr. Li Yik Mui, Dr. Kirk, Mr. M. K. Lo, Mr. McPherson, Mr. Ng Wah, Mr. Forrest, Mr. Ng Shing Kwan, Mr. Leung Pat Yu, Mr. T. M. Haz- lerigg, Mr. Tse Ka Po, Mr. Prior, Mr. J. D. Bush, Mr. Li Hoi Tung, Mr. T. N. Chau, Mr. Ho Sing Chau, and Mr. Wong Tak Kwong.
It was decided that the Executive Committee should consist of the following:-Mr. T. M. Hazlerigg, Mr. Ho Kom Tong, Dr. Kirk, Mr. In Lam Chuen, Mr. Coppin, Mr. Wong Kwong Tin, Mr. McPherson, Mr. Wong Mau Lam, Mrs. Kotewall, Mr. Li Hoi Tung (treasurer), Mrs. Minett, Mr. Chau Tsun Nin (secre- tary), and Mr. Prior (secretary).
The auditors appointed were Messrs. Percy Smith, Seth and Fleming.
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