Lin, Fung Wa Chun, Lee Tak Choi, Pon Wing Chune, Lo Hok Ping, Ho Chi Chong, Fung Hing Ting and other European and Chinese gentlemen
The Rev. Dr Chalmers conducted the proceedings, and Mr C. Palmer, the architect, superintended the laying of the stone. All being assembled, the Rev. Dr Chalmers gave the following brief history of the origin of the hospital, and a description of its nature and purpose :—
Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, -- The promoters of this charitable Hospital are the London Missionary Society, under whose auspices it is to be conducted; Dr Ho Kai, who generously undertakes the expense of building; Mr Belilios, who endows it with a fund of $5,000 for the purchase of medicines; Drs Manson, Young, Hartigan, and Jordan, who offer their services gratuitously; and numerous benevolent friends both European and Chinese, who have already contributed the liberal sum of $8,000 which makes up the balance of the cost of this site, bought by the Society for $22,000. The part which is already built up to the level of Hollywood Road is the Hospital proper. A chapel is to be built on the remainder of the lot by the Chinese Christians. For that no public subscriptions are asked. The Hospital door is to be open to the sick of all creeds and nationalities alike. Advice, medicine, and accommodation will be free to the poor, and only a small sum will have to be paid to the cook for food. For the destitute we hope to have a separate fund to provide food also. It is generally agreed that this institution will be a great boon to the poor Chinese and to not a few of other nationalities, who cannot afford to pay doctor's fees, or even the moderate daily charge at the Civil Hospital. It is intended also to make it a school of European medicine and surgery and in general to make it supplement in some measure the Tung-wa, which is purely Chinese. Our aims are in no way political; and our religion we force upon no one. But we trust to commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God by doing good in His name. We count ourselves happy in having Your Excellency here to-day to lay our foundation stone, and regard it as a good omen of prosperity to the institution for many years to come. For the expense of furnishing, which will still require two or three thousand dollars, and for the annual current expenses, we confidently trust to the benevolence of the Hongkong Community, to whom I here tender my personal thanks for help past and to come. Having made these few explanatory remarks I request Your Excellency to do us the honour of laying the foundation stone of the Alice Memorial Hospital, a truly noble memorial of a lady of rare worth and piety, Mrs Ho Kai
Dr Chalmers mentioned that a tin box containing copies of the local papers, a few Hongkong and Chinese current coins, the subscription list and a copy of Dr Chalmers' speech, had been placed in a receptacle in the bed of the foundation stone.
His Excellency then formally laid the stone, using a silver trowel in doing so.
He then said—Dr Chalmers, ladies and gentlemen, I regard it as a great honour to have been asked to attend here to-day to lay the foundation stone of this hospital, an institution which will be the means of doing a great deal of good in this Colony, if it realises, as I am quite sure it will, the ambition and wishes of its promoters. It will provide proper medical attendance for the poorer Chinese who are prevented from going to any other hospital. I am very glad to hear also that it is proposed to attach to this hospital a medical school where European medicine and science may be studied. Only the other day we had an illustration of the great benefits and great results achieved by a similar institution, the David Manson Memorial Hospital at Takao. I hope that the school to be attached to this hospital will prove as great a success; and I repeat what I said the other day that I hope before long that the Tang Wah Hospital will be managed by Chinese doctors who have been taught European medical science and surgery at a school something like this or the one at Takao. It is only right that I should refer to the public spirit, benevolence and great liberality of the promoters of this hospital. I think the thanks of the community are due to the London Mission Society, who, with the assistance of the subscribers here, have furnished the site on which this building is to be erected, and more especially to Dr Ho Kai, who has made ample provision at his own cost for the erection of the hospital that is to be built here,—as Dr Chalmers says, a truly noble and appropriate memorial to her in whose memory it is to be raised. The thanks of the community are due also to Mr Belilios for his liberal donation, and to Drs Young, Manson, Hartigan and Jordan for the interest they have taken in promoting this hospital, and for the liberality with which they have offered their services at the dispensary and the hospital. This is not remarkable, however, for all the world over the medical profession are noted for their liberality and the interest they take in anything connected with their work. Ladies and gentlemen, in conclusion I would express the hope that the Alice Memorial Hospital prove a success, and that the example now set may, perhaps, induce other people to start other benevolent institutions of a similar nature in Hongkong. (Hear, hear and applause).
Rev. Dr. Chalmers:--Our duties are now over except that I think we ought to pass a vote of thanks to His Excellency for coming here to lay the foundation stone and for expressing his warm sympathy with us in our effort to provide a building for ministering to the sick poor of Hongkong.
Dr Ho Kai proposed three cheers for Mrs Marsh and His Excellency. These were given heartily and the Company then dispersed.
179
Lin, Fung Wa Chun, Lee Tak Choi, Pon Wing Chune, Lo Hok Ping, Ho Chi Chong, Fung Hing Ting and other European and Chinese gentlemen
The Rev. Dr Chalicers conducted the proceedings, and Mr C. Palmer, the archi- tect, superintended the laying of the stone. All being assembled, the Rev. Dr Chal- mers gave the following brief history of the origin of the hospital, and a descrip- tion of its nature and purpose :—
Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, -- The promoters of this charitable Hospital are the London Missionary Society, under whose auspices it is to be conducted; Dr Ho Kai, who generously undertakes the expense of building; Mr Belilios, who en- dows it with a fund of $5,000 for the pur- chase of medicines; Drs Manson, Young, Hartigan, and Jordan, who offer their ser- vices gratuitously; and numerous bene- volent friends both European and Chinese. who have already contributed the liberal sum of $8,000 which makes up the balance of the cost of this site, bought by the Society for $22,000. The part which is already built up to the level of Hollywood Road is the Hospital proper. A chapel is to be built on the remaindor of the lot by the Chinese Christians. For that no public subscriptions are naked. The Hospital door is to be open to the sick of all creeds and nationalities alike. Advice, medicine, and accommodation will be free to the poor, and only a small sum will have to be paid to the cook for food. For the destitute we hope to have a separate fund to provide food also. It is generally agreed that this institu- tion will be a great boon to the poor Chinese and to not a few of other nationalities, who cannot afford to pay doctor's fees, or even the moderate daily charge at the Civil Ros- pital. It is intended also to make it a school of European medicine and surgory and in general to make it supplement in some measure the Tung-wa, which is purely Chinese. Our aims are in no way political; and our religion we force opon no one. But we trust to commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God by We count one- doing good in His name. selves happy in having Your Excellency here to-day to lay our foundation stone, and regard it as a good omen of prosperity to the institution for many years to come. For the expense of furnishing, which will still require two or three thousand dollars, and for the annual current expenses, we confidently trust to the benevolence of the Hongkong Community, to whom I here tender my personal thanks for help past and to come. Having made these few expla- natory remarks I request Your Excellency to do us the honour of laying the foundation stone of the Alice Memorial Hospital, a truly noble memorial of a lady of rare worth and piety, Mrs Ho Kai
Dr Chalmers mentioned that a tin box containing copies of the local papers, a few Hongkong and Chinese current coins, the subscription list and a copy of Dr Chalmers' speech, had been placed in a receptacle in the bed of the foundation stone.
His Excellency then formally laid the stone, using a silver trowel in doing so.
He then said-Dr Chalmers, ladies and gentlemen, I regard it as a great honour to have been asked to attend here to-day to lay the foundation stone of this hospital, an institution which will be the means of doing a great deal of good in this Colony, if it realises, as I am quite sure it will, the ambition and wishes of its promoters. It will provide proper medical attendance for the poorer Chinese who are prevented from going to any other hospital. I am very glad to hear also that it is proposed to attach to this hospital a medical school where European medicine and science may be studied. Only the other day we had an illustration of the great benefits and great
results.
results achieved by a similar institution, the David Manson Memorial Hospital at Takso. I hope that the school to be attached to this hospital will prove as great a success; and I repeat what I said the other day that I hope be fore long that the Tang Wah Hospital will be managed by Chinese doctors who have been taught European medical science and surgery at a school something like this or the one at Takao. It is only right that I should refer to the public spirit, benevol- ence and great liberality of the promoters of this hospital. I think the thanks of the community are due to the London Mission Society, who, with the assistance of the subscribers here, have foruisked the site on which this building is to be erected, and more especially to Dr Ho Kai, who has male ample provision at his own cost for the erection of the hospital that is to be built here,--as Dr Chalmers says, a truly noble and appropriate memorial to her in whose memory it is to be raised. The thanks of the community are due also to Mr Belilios for his liberal donation, and to Dra Young, Manson, Hartigan and Jordan for the interest they have taken in promoting this hospital, and for the liberality with which they have offered their services at the dispensary and the hospital. This is not remarkable, however, for all the world over the medical profession are noted for their liberality and the in- terest they take in anything connected with their work. Ladies and gentlemen, in con. clusion I would express the hope that the Alice Memorial Hospital prove a success, and that the example now set may, perhaps, induce other people to start other benevo- lent institutions of a similar nature in Hongkong. (Hear, hear and applause).
Rev. Dr. Chalmers:--Our duties are now over except that I think we ought to pass a vote of thanks to His Excellency for com- ing here to lay the foundation stone and for expressing his warm sympathy with us in our effort to provide a building for minis- tering to the sick poor of Hongkong.
These
Dr Ho Kai proposed three cheers for Mrs Marsh and His Excellency. were given heartily and the Company then dispersed.
179
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