127
258/17/8.
special theatrical performances to house-to-house collect-
-ions. Firms and guilds and companies subscribe largely and
regularly: and it is in a Company's subscription to the Kwong Wa Hospital that the present request for an additional
grant from the Government had its origin.
The Ferry Company ruming between Hong- -kong and Yeumati subscribed regularly $5,000 per annum, and
when the Kwong Wa Hospital began to get into difficulties,
was asked to increase this amount. The request was refused,
but an enquiry into the general position of this Ferry referred to in the correspondence noted in the margin, has
To Secretary of State No
379 of 12th.December, 1917., Tom Secretary of State
No. 50 of 19th.February, 1918.
4~74255/17/18
led to the letting of the Ferry Rights
by tender for three years at a monthly
payment of £9,800 a month. While how-
-over the Government benefits to this extent, the Hospital loses its original $5,000 per annum as well as its prospect of increased revenue: and at the same time certain dues connected with Piers, which were paid to the Chinese Public Dispensaries funds, want with the Ferry Rights and have been lost to that Charity.
Further, a site long used as a market
in Sham Shui Po, of which all the revenue went to the local
Chinese Public Dispensary has been taken over by the Government for the erection of a modern market building. The revenue now accrues to Government, with a resultant loss of some 82,000 to £3,000 per annum to the Chinese Public Dispensaries Funds.
5.
The circumstances would therefore appear fully to justify an extra charitable donation from the Government of $25,000; especially as it is proposed with this Grant to inaugurate a system which promises to make for efficiency and economy. If the suggestion meets with your approval, the money would not be specifically earmarked for particular charities, but would be put in the hands of
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.