CO129-519-2 Estimates for 1930 19-9-1929 - 19-9-1929 — Page 133

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

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him that the University serves a most valuable purpose, not only as an educating factor, but in providing the Colony with useful citizens. I very much hope that both the Hong Kong Government and the commercial concerns of this Colony will avail themselves more and more each year of the facilities which our University provides, and that they will assign an increasing number of positions in their service to University graduates. I further agree that the Hong Kong Government should within its means contribute liberally to the support of the University, for the success of the University is Every bound up with the success and prosperity of the Colony. effort has been made, and will continue to be made, by this Govern- ment to secure an allocation of part of the Boxer Indemnity moneys as an endowment of the Hong Kong University, and the Vice- Chancellor, Mr. Hornell, who is now on leave in England, is doing what he can to advance this cause. The honourable the senior Chinese unofficial member enquired why the grant-in-aid of the University School of Chinese is reduced from $46,000 to $40,000 in next year's estimates. The explanation is that the sum of $46,000 is the estimate of the cost of this school in the fourth year of its working, when a full staff, including a principal, has been engaged. As yet no principal has been appointed, and the full estimate of the cost of this school for next year, as prepared by the University authorities, is only $40,000. Therefore, this sum only is included. I may here say that the Government attaches great importance to the University School of Chinese and will certainly give it effective support.

The Chinese members of this Council have asked Government to make a substantial annual grant to the Tung Wa Eastern Hospital, of which the foundation stone was laid last year, and which will, I understand, be ready to be opened at the end of next November. No provision for such a grant was made in the draft estimates because the Directors of the Tung Wa Hospital were until very recently in doubt whether funds for the maintenance and working expenses of their new Eastern Branch Hospital could be found. A written as- surance has now been given by the Chairman of the Tung Wa Hospital on behalf of all the Directors to my Government through the Secretary for Chinese Affairs that they will hand over to their successors a sum of at least $100,000 specially raised for the Tung Wa Eastern Hospital Fund. I shall, therefore, be willing early in next year to recommend to this Council a supplementary vote of $25,000 as subsidy to the Tung Wa Eastern Hospital upon the distinct understanding, however, that in the unfortunate event of the Directors at any future time finding themselves unable to carry on for lack of funds, the Eastern Hospital and its management shall be handed over to Government.

It remains for me now to thank the unofficial members of the Council very sincerely for the patience and attention, with which they have listened to the presentation of the Government's case, in connection with the Budget, both at the meeting of the 5th inst. and again to-day. I do not myself consider next year's budget in any

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