CO129-567-6 Tung Wah Hospitals- supplementary expenditure 22-1-1938 - 13-1-1939 — Page 19

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4.

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The accounts for the year 1937 show a deficit in

the year's working of $153,776.31, the total revenue from

all sources (including Government grants amounting to

$91,000) being $428, 183.92 and the expenditure $581,960.23.

The deficit in respect of 1938 is likely to be somewhat

larger, owing to the growth in the population of the Colony

from the influx of refugees, although this will be

counterbalanced to some extent by better receipts from

house property.

3

5.

The position of these hospitals has for some time

been causing anxiety. They have gradually developed from

what were at one time little more than refuges for the

dying and destitute, until they are at the present day well

on the road to becoming reasonably well equipped institutions

for the treatment of the sick. The whole of the Tung Wah

Eastern Hospital, and certain blocks of the Tung Wah and

Kwong Wah Hospitals are modern buildings well suited to the

purpose for which they were designed. Increased efficiency

has inevitably meant increased cost, but the income of the

Hospitals has not kept pace with their increased expenditure.

Receipts from their investments (largely in houses and land)

suffered during the depression in trade, while charitable

donations have fallen off rather than increased, especially

during the past twelve months when so much charitable effort

has been diverted to China. There has, therefore, been a

gradual increase in recent years in the Government

subventions to the Hospitals.

shortage of funds has often prevented the institution of

reforms, such as the appointment of additional or better

qualified staff, the necessity for which is fully appreciated

At the same time the