Enclosure 3.
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, APRIL 27th, 1897.
THE DIAMOND JUBILEE MEMORIAL.
DECISION OF THE COMMITTEE. Yesterday afternoon the Diamond Jubilee Permanent Memorial Committee met in the Council Chamber for the first time since the Sub-Committee issued its report. Hon. C. P. Chater presided and there were also present Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart (Hon. Secretary), Hons. F. A. Cooper, F. H. May, T. H. Whitehead, J. J. Bell Irving, Wei Yuk, Messrs. A. Coxon, D. R. Crawford, N. J. Ede, J. J. Francis, Q.C., D. Gillies, R. M. Gray, Ho Amei, Ho Tang, T. Jackson, Li Sing, A. P. McEwen, H. M. Mehta, H. N. Moly, R. N. Moses, A. J. Raymond, H. A. Ritchie, Herbert Smith, and J. Thorburn.
The HON. SECRETARY read the minutes of the previous meeting and they were confirmed.
The CHAIRMAN—Gentlemen, the Sub-Committee appointed by you to inquire as to certain projects with a view of ascertaining their suitability as a permanent memorial of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's reign have made their report and that report has been in your hands for some days. Having considered the report very carefully and having ascertained, as far as practicable, the general feelings of the community, it was evident that nothing could be definitely settled without in the first instance ascertaining from the Government what they were prepared to do in this matter. I consulted the hon. Secretary and the hon. Treasurer and in company with them waited upon his Excellency the Governor. We pointed out to his Excellency that the general feeling, so far as the selection of any one project was concerned, was very much divided indeed and that whatever project was carried, or rather whatever project was recommended by this Committee, it could not be carried without the aid of the Government, and we therefore asked his Excellency whether he would be prepared to vote a sum towards our funds equal to that which might be raised from public subscriptions, and this sum, we hoped, might amount to $50,000. We further asked his Excellency that if half the sum thus collected were devoted to the erection of a hospital for women and children and the training of nurses and the other half were given to the commencement of the road round the island, as projected by Mr. Stewart, the Government should take charge of the hospital and carry it on in conjunction with and indeed in the same manner as the present Civil Hospital and should also, in course of time, complete the road round the island. His Excellency received us most courteously, and promised that he would give the matter his most favourable consideration, and that he would give his answer in a few days. I am now, gentlemen, in possession of his Excellency's reply, and it gives me very great pleasure to read it to you.
Government House, Hongkong, 24th April, 1897.
Sir,—Understanding that there has been a nearly general consensus of opinion in regard to the celebration of Her Majesty's Jubilee, and that the majority of the taxpayers are in favour of the erection, at once, of a Hospital for Women and Children, an Institute for the Training of Nurses, and the making of a road, by degrees, round the island, I have consulted the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the subject.
Mr. Chamberlain has agreed to my proposing a vote to the Legislative Council equal in amount to that subscribed by the general public, say about $50,000 (fifty thousand dollars), the total amounts to be devoted towards the general celebrations and the three schemes mentioned above, on the understanding that in the event of there being any deficiency in the public revenue it will be made good by increased taxation, as indicated in his Despatch No. 64 of the 17th March, published in the local papers of the 23rd inst.
I should be glad if you would submit the matter as soon as possible to the Committee, with the expression of a hope on my part that they will arrive at an early and unanimous decision as to what schemes for the adequate celebration of this unusual event should be adopted and proceeded with.—I am, sir, yours faithfully,
WILLIAM ROBINSON,
Gentlemen, from this letter you will observe that his Excellency, with the concurrence of the unofficial members of the Council, is prepared to bring forward a vote of $50,000, or a sum equal to that which might be raised from the community by the Jubilee Committee. The Government is further prepared to take charge of the hospital and to carry it on in conjunction with the Civil Hospital and on the same terms, and furthermore to finish the road projected by Mr. Stewart in course of time. The Committee, gentlemen, have made no recommendation; in fact from the resolution that was passed we were of opinion that we were not asked to make any recommendation, and even if we were I do not think for a moment that we could have been in a position to make a recommendation without the information which I have just placed before you. This information was received by me only on Friday last and with this information in your possession, gentlemen, I have not the least doubt that you can easily arrive at a conclusion—a conclusion which, I trust, will not only be pleasing to Her Most Gracious Majesty, whom we have all met here to honour, but also satisfactory to the community and a credit to the colony. (Applause.)
Mr. CRAWFORD—May I take it that the expression of the opinion given by the Sub-Committee was such that you did not consider it necessary to bring forward the scheme for the establishment of a College of Medicine?
The CHAIRMAN—Mr. Crawford, as far as the College of Medicine is concerned I may say that having carefully considered the report and ascertained, as far as practicable, the feeling of the community, we thought it better not to bring that scheme forward at the present moment; perhaps, on another occasion it might be brought forward. That was my feeling on the subject.
Mr. FRANCIS—May I ask for His Excellency's letter to be read again. I certainly did not hear any pledge that the Government would take over the hospital and continue it, or that they would carry out the construction of the road. I may have heard the latter imperfectly.
The CHAIRMAN again read His Excellency the Governor's letter.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD—May I ask if you have a promise from His Excellency the Governor that the Government will continue the maintenance of the proposed hospital?
The CHAIRMAN—I certainly understood His Excellency's letter to mean that. In case there is a deficit it will have to be met by increased taxation.
The HON. SECRETARY—His Excellency the Governor has communicated with the Secretary of State for the Colonies stating that the cost of the road will be 21 lakhs, and it is proposed to complete the road; the same remark applies to the hospital. If it is decided by the Committee that one of the memorials is to take the form of a hospital for women and children and the establishing of a nursing institute the Government will take over the management of these institutions and see that they are maintained. (Applause)
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD—In the various sections of this community different ideas are held as to the most appropriate way of permanently commemorating the completion of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's reign. It is the longest and the most glorious reign in the history of the British Empire, and the one sentiment which dominates over all others is that of loyalty and devotion to our Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria. (Applause.) It is most essential that all sections of this community should pull together on this unique and auspicious occasion and do what will not only commemorate to future generations this memorable and great historical event, but something which will be worthy of Hongkong and the City of Victoria named by her gracious permission.
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Enclosure 3.
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, APRIL 27th, 1897.
THE DIAMOND JUBILEE MEMORIAL.
DECISION OF THE COMMITTEE, Yesterday afternoon the Diamond Jubilee Permanent Memorial Committee met in the Council Chumbor for the first time since the Sub-Committee isened its report. Hon. C. P. Chater presided and there were also present Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart (Hon. Secre tary), Hons. F. A. Cooper, F. H. May. T. H. Whitehoad, J. J. Bell Irving, Wei Yuk, Messrs. A. Coxon, D. R. Crawford, N. J. Ede, J. J. Francis. Q.C.. D. Gillies, R. M. Gray, Ho Amei, Ho Tang, T. Jackson, Li Sing, A. P. MoEwen, H. M. Mehta, H. N. Moly, R. N. Moses, A. J. Raymond, H. A. Ritchie, Herbert Smith, and J. Thorburn.
The HON. SECRETARY read the minutes of the previous meeting and they were confirmed.
The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, the Sub-Com- mittee appointed by you to inquire as to certain projects with a view of ascertaining their suit- ability as a permanent memorial of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's reign have made their re- port and that report has been in your hands for some days. Having considered the report very carefully and having ascertained, as far as practicable, the general feelings of the com- mannity, it was evident that nothing could be definitely settled without in the first instance ascertaining from the Government what they were prepared to do in this matter. I con- sulted the hon. Secretary and the hon. Treasurov and in company with them waited upon his Excellency the Governor, We pointed out to his Excellency that the general feeling, so far as the selection of any ono project was concerned, was very much divided indeed and that whatever project was carried, or rather whatever project was re- commended by this Committee, it could not be carried without the aid of the Government, and we therefore asked his Excellency whether ho would be prepared to vote a sum towards our funds equal to that which might be raised from public subscriptions, and this sum, wa hoped, might amount to $50,000. We further asked his Excellency that if half the sum thus collected were devoted to the erection of a hospital for women and children and the training of nurses and the other half were given to the commencement of the road round the island, as projected by Mr. Stewart, the Government should take charge of the hospital and carry it on in conjunction with and indeed in the same manner as the present Civil Hospital and should also, in course of time, complete the road round the island. His Excellency received ns most courteously, and promised that he would give tho matter his most favourable consideration, and that he would give his answer in a few days. I am now, gentlemen, in possession of his Excel- lency's reply, and it gives me
very great pleasure to read it to yon.
Government House, Hongkong, 24th April, 1897. Sir,-Understanding that there has been a ; nearly general concensus of opinion in regard to the celebration of Her Majesty's Jubilee, and that the majority of the taxpayers are in favour of the erection, at once, of a Hospital for Women and Children, an Institute for the Training of Nurses, and the making of a road, by degrees, round the island, I have consulted: the Socrotury of State for the Colonies on the subject.
Mr. Chamberlain has agreed to my proposing, a vote to the Legislative Council equal in amount to that subscribed by the general public, say shout $30,000 (üfty thousand dollars), the total amounts to be devoted towards the general celebrations and the three schemes mentioned above, on the understanding that in the event of there being any deficiency in the public revenue it will be made good by increased taxa- tion, as indicted in bis Despatch No. 64 of the 17th March, published in the local papers of?
the 23rd inst,
I should be glad if yon would submit the matter as soon as possible to the Committee, with the expression of a hope on my part that | they will arrive at an early and apanimous decision as to what schemes for the adequate celebration of this unusual event should be adopted and proceeded with.-1 am, sir, yours faithfully,
WILLIAM ROBINSON, Gentlemen, from this letter you will observe that his Excellency, with the concurrence of the unofficial members of the Council, is pre- pared to bring forward a vote of $50,000, or a sum equal to that which might be raised from the community by the Jubilee Com- mittee. The Government is further pre- pared to take charge of the hospital and to carry it on in conjunction with the Civil Hospital and on the same terms, and far- therinore to finish the road projected by Mr. Stewart in course of time. The Committee, gentlemen, have mado no recommendation; in fact from the resolution that was passed we were of opinion that we were not asked to make any recommendation, and even if we were I do not think for a moment that we could have been in a position to make a recommenda- tion without the information which I have just placed before you. This information was received by me only on Friday last and with this information in your possession, gentlemON, I have not the least doubt that you can easily arrive at a conclusion-& conclusion which, Ï trust, will not only be pleasing to Her Most Gracions Majesty, whom we have all met here to honour, but also satisfactory to the com- munity and a credit to the colony. (Applause.) Mr. CRAWFORD-May I take it that the expression of the opinion given by the Sub- Committee was such that you did not consider
it necessary to bring forward the scheme for the establishment of a College of Medicine P.
The CHAIRMAN-Mr. Crawford, as far as the College of Medicine in concerned I may say that having carefully considered the report and ascertained, as far as practicable, the feeling of the community, we thought it better not to bring that scheme forward at the present moment; perhaps, on another occasion it might be brought forward. That was my fool. ing on the subject.
Mr. FRANCIS-May I ask for His Excel- leucy's letter to be read again. I certainly did not hear any pledge that the Government would take over the hospital and continne it, or that they would carry out the construction of the road. I may have heard the latter im perfectly.
The CHAIRMAN again read His Excellency the Governor's letter.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-May I ask if you have a promise from His Excellency the Gov-! ernor that the Government will continue the maintenance of the proposed hospital?
The CHAIRMAN-I certainly understaud His Excellency's letter to mean that. In case there is a deficit it will have to be met by increased taxation.
The Hoa. SECRETARY-His Excellency the Governor has communicated with the Secretary of State for the Colonios stating that the cost of the road will be 21 lakhs, and it is proposed to complete the road; the same remark applies to the bospital. If it is decided by the Com. mittee that one of the memorials is to take the form of a hospital for women and children and the establishing of a nursing institute the Government will take over the management of these institutions and see that they are зnaintained. (Applause)
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-In the various sections of this community different ideas are held as to the most appropriate way of per manently commemorating the completion of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's reign. It
is the longest and the most glorious reign in the history of the British Empire, and the one sentiment which dominates over all others is that of loyalty and devotion to our Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria. (Applause.) It is most essential that all sections of this community hould pull together on this unique and auspicions occasion and do what will not only commemorate to fature generations this memor- able and great historical event, but something which will be worthy of Hongkong and the City of Victoria nam by her gracious permission,
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