CO129-138 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [6-7] — Page 157

18

1569

155

and I believe there is no effective remedy for such an evil except inducing the Chinese, as I am doing, to build a suitable Hospital and refuge, open to European surveillance but under Chinese management and direction, so that there be no such reluctance to go there in the minds of the Natives, which generally prevents their voluntarily going to the Civil Hospital.

21. I trust the above details may satisfy Your Lordship of the expediency of the decision taken by myself and my Executive Council to give every aid to the establishment of the proposed Hospital.

I have felt it a duty to make my explanations full and explicit, because, as the money to be contributed by the Government can only come from the Gaming License fund, it is essential that I should prove the object to be legitimately within the principles suggested for the application of that fund, as mentioned in my despatch No. 7144 of the 8th Instant, vide Para. 8.

22. I shall have to call Your Lordship's attention hereafter to several other objects bearing on the moral and physical enforcement of the Chinese portion of the population, scarcely less important than the establishment of the intended Hospital. I more particularly allude now to relieving next year the Chinese shipping of a portion of the dues exacted under the Harbor Ordinance by reimbursing the Colony from the License fund.