CO129-278 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1897 [11-12] — Page 454

Enclosu

into?

1008

[REG 1 JAN 19

ing a report of the pro- ceedings at an audience which I granted to the re tiring Directors of the Jung Wa

Wa Hospital and the newly elected Directors for

the ensuing year

14th instant.

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On

the

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I have the honour to be,

Sir

Your most Obedient

Humble Servant, William Robingen

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Extract from the "Daily Press" of the 16th. December, 1897.

F.A. THE GOVERNOR AND THE TUNG WA HOSPITAL.

Yesterday morning the members of the Com- mittee of the Tung Wa Hospital attondefat Government House in order to be introduced to His hixcellency the Governor, Sir William Robinson.

re-

Co-

HIS EXCELANCY said-Gentlemen, I am ¦ very glad to meet you here to-day and I desire to express my satisfaction at the result of the election of new Directors of the Hospital for the ensuing year. Though there are some of you with whom I am not personally acquainted, I know that you are all gentlemen of position and influence among the large Chinese com- munity of this colony. I am glad to see among you Mr. Fang Wa Choun, who rendered such oxcellent services on tho vcension of Her Majesty's Jubilee and whose intimate knowledge of English and whose acquaintance with Euro- pern ideas and customs will be of great use to you and to the Government in dealing with the affairs of the Hospital, You are all aware that, ever since my arrival in Hongkong, I have taken a great interest in the Tung Wa Hospital and have tried to increase its usefulness by introducing into it very necessary forms. am pleased to learn that the Directore during the past year have operated with Dr. Thomson, whom I appointed as visiting surgeon to the Hospital, in effecting improvements, which have placed the Hospital in à more satisfactory condition than it has over been before. For their exertions the Directors. during the past year, deserve the thanks of all those who are interested in the care of the in digent sick among the Chinese community. I trust the new Directors will not only follow the good example set by their predecossors but will press on rapidly the good work of reform, There is still room for improvement and I desire

Ito call the attention of the new Directors to the following matters, which I trust they will deal with without delay. The Hospital is still with. out a steward. No Hospital can be kept in a really satisfactory condition without the services of such an officer, and I, therefore, desire you to appoint a steward as soon as you are able to secure a suitable person. The floors of all the six wards on the ground floor of the Hospital are paved with brick. This is not a satisfactory style of flooring; wood should be substitutod. The Ko Fong wards still remaining are not worthy of the Hospital. They should all be removed with the exception, of one row, which could be used for isolation wards. Instead of the Ko Foug wards, which should ho removed, two blocks, "each two storeys bigh, making four new wards, should be erected on the nothern part of the site. The firo-places in some of the wards are not arranged in such a manuer as to giro sufficient beat. This should be rectified by abolishing the present fire places and placing stoves in the middle of the wards. The water-carriage system should also be intro. duced into the Hospital. My attention has been called to the great mortality from forers in the Tong Wa Hospital during the present year. I understand that formerly quinine was not used to any great extent in the treatment of fever patients, but that it has been used more frequently of late. I hope that you will make a point of seeing that a pleutiful and regular use is made of this valuable drug, and I hare instructed Dr. Thomson to furnish me with retarus showing the extent to which quiuine is used. The matters I have just mentioned require immediate attention and I trust to hear shortly that the new Directors have commenced their term of office by taking stops to have these improvements introduced. To carry them out inoney will bo required. I trust the funds of the ospital will be sufficient to cover the expense, but, if extra funds are nec: ssary, I am sure that some of the many rich Chinese re-

sident's

sidents in Hongkong who bave made or whe are making comfortable fortunos in this colony. under the protection of the British flag. will come forward with subscriptions sufficient to meet the necessary expenditure, and thus earn for themselves a reputation for being men who rejoice in good works and whose charity ext uds to the poor and the sick. Gentlemen, I am very glad to have had the pleasure of meeting you. This is the last time we shall meet in this eclcuy as I leave you on the Ist February next. I feel sure that under your directorate the affairs of the Hospital will be carefully administered. Remember that Pro- gress" is the spirit of this age, and that those who try to act in opposition to that spirit are doomed to failure. The spirit of progress, so long absent from the Tang Wa Hospital, bus at last commenced to show itself in that institu- tion. It is your duty, gentlemen, to nourish that spirit into a healthy vitality in the interests of such of your countrymen in this colony as are too poor and too weak to cure for themselves. In the discharge of that duty you can always rely on the encouragement, and support of this Government. I wish you all good-bye, and I can assure you that though I may be thousands of miles from Hongkong I shall never forget it, or fail to pray for the success and pros. perity of the colony and of all its inhabitants.

Mr. Jaso Tsz-BHAN, in reply, said--Your Excellency, on behalf of the retiring Directors I have to thank your Excellency for the kind words you have just spoken. We have boou endeavouring during the tenure of our office to do our utmost for the public benefit. but 1 am afraid we have not done all that we ought to have done.

I am glad. however, that the mAN- agement is left in better hands. We beg to arsil ourselves of this opportunity to thank Your Excellency and Mr. Lockhart for your as- sistance and kiud treatment.

Me. FuNO WA CHEUN said-Your Ex- cellency, on behalf of myself and the other members of the present Committee of the Tung Wa Hospital, I beg to thank your Excelleney for condescending to receive us here to-day. We have listened with great interest to your Excellency's encouraging words, which Lave inspirited us. As to your Excellency's instructions for the improvement of the Hospital, we will do our humble best to see that your desires are carried out in a proper manner. We are very sorry to hear that your Excellency is about to leave us. The Chinese in this colong have always found in you a very kind Governor. They will all very much regret your departure. We venture to express hope that you may be long spared to enjoy health and prosperity. As to the allusion to myself, I felt very bighly flattered by Your Excellency's kind romarks. If I liave rendered any service to the colony, it has been a pleasure and a privilege to me, and could not have been done without the support and assistance of many triouds. I shall always be only too glad to do everything in my power to help in any matter connected with further ing the welfare of the colony. Sir, we again thank you for the audience you have granted us. HIS EXCELLENOY then thanked Mr. Liao Tsz-Shan and Mr. Fung Wa Cheun for their kind remarks. He stated that he felt sure his wishes regarding the Tung Wa Hospital would be duly and properly carried out. During the six years he had been Governor of Hongkong, he had always received the loyal support of the respectable and wealthy Chinese of this colony. His Excellency then concluded by requesting those present to driuk a glass of wine and proposed as a toast, "Success to the Tung Wa Hospital and Prosperity to tho Chinese Com- munity."

The toast was drank with enthusiasm. The proceedings then conclated.

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