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satisfactory when it is remembered how many other calls were made upon the generosity of the local Chinese population
during the period under review.
4. In accordance with the terms of the appeal this money has been deposited with the Hong Kong and Shanghai
Banking Corporation as a fund which, under the Administration of the Urban Council, is to be used primarily for preparing and equipping two open spaces, one in Victoria and one in Kowloon as Public Parks with children's playgrounds. The areas specified in the appeal are being presented free of
charge by the Government and the cost of maintenance of the
parks when completed is to be a charge on public funds.
5. The Urban Council has appointed a committee, under the chairmanship of Mr. R. R. Todd, Chairman of the Council,
to administer this fund. A detailed report of their
administration will be submitted at a 1: ter date but I am
already advised that it is estimated that the preparation of the original areas will by no means exhaust the fund and that
a substantial balance will be available for an extension of
the scheme to other areas.
6. A slight difficulty, however, has been experienced at the outset in making proper provision for the custody
and control of this fund. The Urban Council in Hong Kong is not a separate authority like the Municipal Councils which exist in other Colonies, but is a semi-official body, with an official chairman, who, as Head of the Sanitary Department, gives effect to the decisions of the Council
through the medium of a Government Department. In these circumstances it would appear desirable that this fund which
ill be handled by the accounting staff of the Sanitary
Department should be subject to a certain measure of
Government control and I propose, subject to your approval,
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No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.