CO129-192 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [1-4] — Page 450

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

to continue in force the regulations they have made for admission to the Museum.

While thanking your Lordship for directing the payment of the $1800 which had since June 1879 been withheld by His Excellency the Governor they note that your Lordship objects to any distinction being made as to class or race in the rules of admission but they would not object to admission alternately free and at a charge as in the South Kensington Museum. The Committee do not fail to appreciate the evident good wishes of your Lordship in suggesting what might appear to be a satisfactory mode of settling the dispute that has arisen but they feel constrained to point out that however well such a rule might work in England it would in their opinion regards Chinese visitors utterly impracticable in this Colony as the result would be that the Museum would be empty for three days out of every six days in the week while upon the remaining three days it would be overcrowded.

Although the funds to build the City Hall were chiefly obtained from shareholders and it was understood at the time that the shareholders would be entitled to any profit that might be made from the letting of the Theatre, Ball Room etc., as a matter of fact the shareholders have not received any money by way of interest on their capital but there does not appear to be any reasonable hope of their ever doing so or of their getting back any portion of their capital. Great difficulties as to ways and means have always been experienced in the institution since it was first opened and the Committee do not feel justified in abandoning Government Grant without once more placing clearly before your Lordship the reasons that have actuated them in making and continuing the regulations that have been objected to.

The Committee feel that it is somewhat difficult to explain fully to your Lordship...

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to continue in force the regulations they have made for admission to the Museum. While thanking your Lordship for directing the payment of the $1800 which had since June 1879 been withheld by His Excellency the Governor they note that your Lordship objects to any distinction being made as to class or race in the rules of admission but they would not object to admission alternately free and at a charge as in the South Kensington Museum. The Committee do not fail to appreciate the evident good wishes of your Lordship in suggesting what might appear to be a satisfactory mode of settling the dispute that has arisen but they feel constrained to point out that however well such a rule might work in England it would in their opinion regards Chinese visitors utterly impracticable in this Colony as the result would be that the Museum would be empty for three days out of every six days in the week while upon the remaining three days it would be overcrowded. Although the funds to build the City Hall were chiefly obtained from shareholders and it was understood at the time that the shareholders would be entitled to any profit that might be made from the letting of the Theatre, Ball Room etc., as a matter of fact the shareholders have not received any money by way of interest on their capital but there does not appear to be any reasonable hope of their ever doing so or of their getting back any portion of their capital. Great difficulties as to ways and means have always been experienced in the institution since it was first opened and the Committee do not feel justified in abandoning Government Grant without once more placing clearly before your Lordship the reasons that have actuated them in making and continuing the regulations that have been objected to. The Committee feel that it is somewhat difficult to explain fully to your Lordship... Page 450 Page 451
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to continue in force the regulations they have made for asuniesion to the Museum. you While thanking your Lordship for direting the payment of the $1800 which had since June 1879 been withheld by stis Excellency the Governer they note that your Cordship objects to arry distinction bering made as to class or race in the rules of admission but Iteat would not object to admission alternately free and as in the South by fragment Kensington Museum. The Committee do not fail to appreciate the evident good? wishes of your Lordship in stive suggesting what might appear to be a satisfactory mode of settling the dispute that has I arisen but they feel constrained to point out it at however well such a rule might work in England it would in their opinion regards Cheniese vicitors utterly incpracticable in thres Colony as the result would The as be that the Museum would be emply for three of the sixe every days out. week while upon upon the remaining three days it would be 442 over crowded. Alltrough the funds to build the City Hall were chiefly obtained from shareholders and it was understood at the trine that the shareholders would be entitled to any profit that might be ricade from the letting of the Theatre, Ball Room re, ao a matter of fact the shareholders have not received no money to be interest hourly on their appear but there does not any reasonable hope of their ever doing. 20 or of their getting back any portion of their capital. Great difficulties to ways and means have ad Lance always been experienced in the institution. wah first opened and the Committee do not feel itre justified in abandoning Government Grant withintonce more. a placing clearly before. Your Lordship the reasons itiat have acticated them in making and contivining the regulations that have been objicked to. The Committee feel... theat it is somewhat difficult som to explain to your Lorddhifur.- fully Page 450Page 451
2026-05-22 08:10:07 · Baseline
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to continue in force the

regulations they have made for asuniesion to the Museum.

you

While thanking your Lordship for direting the payment of the $1800 which had since June 1879 been withheld by stis Excellency the Governer they note that your Cordship objects to arry distinction bering made as to class or race in the rules of admission but Iteat

would not object to admission alternately free and

as in the South by fragment Kensington Museum. The Committee do not fail to appreciate the evident good? wishes of your Lordship in stive suggesting what might appear to be a satisfactory mode of settling the dispute that has I arisen but they feel constrained

to point out it at however well such a rule might work in England it would in their opinion

regards Cheniese vicitors utterly incpracticable in thres Colony as the result would

The as

be that the Museum would

be emply for three

of the sixe

every

days out.

week while

upon

upon the remaining three

days it would be

442

over crowded.

Alltrough the funds to build the City Hall were chiefly obtained from shareholders and

it was

understood at the trine that the shareholders would be entitled to

any profit that might be ricade from the letting

of the Theatre, Ball Room re,

ao

a matter of fact the shareholders have not

received no

money

to be

interest

hourly

on their

appear

but there does not

any

reasonable hope of

their ever doing.

20 or of their

getting back any portion of their capital. Great difficulties to ways

and means have

ad

Lance

always been experienced in

the institution.

wah

first opened

and the Committee do not feel

itre

justified in abandoning Government Grant withintonce

more.

a placing clearly before. Your Lordship the reasons

itiat have acticated them in

making and contivining the regulations that have been objicked to.

The Committee feel...

theat it is somewhat difficult

som

to explain to

your

Lorddhifur.-

fully

Page 450Page 451

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