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26. The chief event of the year was the completion of the new block of which the Foundation Stone had been laid by His Excellency the Governor on October 17th, 1933. As outlined in my predecessor's report for 1933 the building of this block at a cost of about $170,000, including equipment, represents the first part of a general scheme of reconstruction of the Tung Wah Hospital which is intended to modernize the accommodation and to reduce the number of beds from a total of 560 to 450. This reduction in numbers, combined with the spaciousness of the new structure, is in accordance with the policy of avoiding over-development in the congested Central District and furthering development at the new Tung Wah Eastern Hospital which stands in more suitable surroundings at Sookonpoo.
27. The Opening Ceremony of the new block was performed by His Excellency the Governor on May 25th, 1934, in the presence of a large gathering representative of the Chinese and European Communities. It consists of six storeys with windows on all sides and is well ventilated and lighted. His Excellency stressed the fact that accommodation has been made in this building for tubercular patients and in thanking the Tung Wah Hospital Committee for the constant and ready assistance which it gives to the Government and the community in general he paid a special tribute to the assistance which had been forthcoming in connection with the recent disaster at the Gas Works.
28. The trade depression has affected the Tung Wah Hospital no less than other institutions in the matter of revenue derived from property and from public subscriptions. In order to reduce the amount of the deficit which it was feared would have to be faced at the end of the year it was decided, with the permission of the Government, to organize a Sweepstake on one of the races at the Race Meeting held on 19th May, 1934, which resulted in a net gain to the Hospital Funds of approximately $26,000. With the same object in view a successful Charity Fête and Bazaar was held at the Lee Gardens for a week commencing on October 20th. On October 29th and 30th the management of Isako's Circus very generously gave performances for the benefit of the Tung Wah Hospital.
29. At the Tung Wah Eastern Hospital a ward containing twelve beds has been set aside since June, 1933, for the treatment of male Opium Addicts. The expenses of this special treatment are defrayed by the Hong Kong Government. This experiment is being made as a result of the Agreement reached at the League of Nations Opium Conference held at Bangkok in 1931. During the year under review 413 cases were dealt with, the average duration of stay in Hospital being nine days.
30. The number of free schools for poor children maintained in various parts of the Colony by the Hospital in 1934 was twelve with a total of 1,256 pupils.