CHINESE HOSPITALS OF THE COLONY
MULTIFARIOUS DUTIES CARRIED ON BY THE TUNG WAH GROUP
MR. M.K. LO'S SPEECH TO ROTARIANS
Under the heading "An Aspect of Chinese Community Services: Chinese Hospitals," interesting details of the splendid work carried out by the Tung Wah, Kwong Wah and Tung Wah Eastern Hospitals were given at yesterday's Rotary Club tiffin at Gloucester Building by Mr. M.K. Lo, a past chairman of the three institutions.
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Mr. Lo stated that in addition to extensive medical work, the Tung Wah performed a great variety of duties of a public, philanthropic and charitable nature, of which Europeans could scarcely have any conception. The Tung Wah ran about a dozen Chinese vernacular schools with over 1,000 pupils; settled local disputes of a commercial nature, chiefly referred to the hospital by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs; investigated cases of kidnapped children, and pursued lengthy enquiries with a view to restoring the kidnapped to their families; undertook the payment of gratuities to dependents on behalf of European Companies at the request of the S.C.A., carried out the removal of ancient graves; dealt with cases of survivors from wrecks; and looked after destitutes and returned destitute emigrants.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Mr. Lo, addressing the gathering said. - The first object of Rotary is stated to be the ideal of service as the basis of all worthy enterprise, and as an expression of that ideal a Community Service Committee is in existence, the duty of which is described in the bye-laws in the following terms: This Committee shall devise and carry into effect plans which will guide and assist the members of this Club in discharging their responsibilities in their community relationships.
It seems to me that it is difficult, if not impossible, for this Club to carry out its duties in community service without knowing something of the existing organisations interested in community service. I venture to express the hope that, one day, this Club will undertake the task of making a comprehensive Survey of Community Service Organisations in this Colony. In the meantime, although I cannot pretend to have any expert knowledge in this matter, I offer a few words on the origin and work of the Chinese hospitals in the hope that they may be of some interest to fellow Rotarians, and of some value to the Club as materials for the Survey if and when it is undertaken.
INCORPORATION OF THE HOSPITALS
The Tung Wah Hospital was incorporated by the Tung Wah Hospital Incorporation Ordinance 1870. Its foundation stone was laid by Sir Richard Macdonnell on the 9th April 1870, and it was opened by the same Governor in the following year.
The Kwong Wah Hospital was incorporated by the Tung Wah Hospital Extension Ordinance 1911. Under this Ordinance the Kwong Wah was in effect made a part of the Tung Wah Hospital, and the directors of the Tung Wah were given the same power of management and control over the Kwong Wah as they possessed over the Tung Wah. In practice, however, the affairs of the Kwong Wah were administered by a local committee, locally elected, until 1930.
CHINESE HOSPITALS OF THE COLONY
MULTIFERIOUS DUTIES CARRIED ON BY THE TUNG WAH GROUP
MR. M.K. LO'S SPEECH TO ROTARIANS
Under the heading "An Aspect of Chinese Community Services: Chinese Hospitals," interesting details of the splendid work carried out by the Tung Wah, Kwong Wah and Tung Wah Eastern Hospitals were given at yesterday's Rotary Club tiffin at Gloucester Building by Mr. M.K.Lo, a past chairman of the three institutions.
593
Mr. Lo stated that in addition to extensive medical work, the Tung Wah performed a great variety of duties of a public, philanthropic and charitable nature, of which Europeans could scarcely have any conception. The Tung Wah ran about a dozen Chinese vernacular schools with over 1,000 pupils; settled local disputes of a commercial nature, chiefly referred to the nospital by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs; investigated cases of kidnapped children, and pursued lengthy enquiries with a view to restoring the kidnapped to their families; undertook the payment of gratuities to dependents on behalf of European Companies at the request of the S.C.A., carried out the removal of ancient graves; dealt with cases of Aurvivors from wrecks; and looked after destitutes and returned Cestitute emigrants.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Mr. Lo, addressing the gathering said. - The first object of notary is stated to be the ideal of service as the basis of all worthy enterprise, and as an expression of that ideal a . community Service Community is in existence, the duty of which is described in the bye-laws in the following terms: This Committee shall devise and carry into effect plans which will guide and assist the members of this Club in discharging their responsibilities in their community relationships.
It seems to me that it is difficult, if not impossible, or this Club to carry out its duties in community service without knowing something of the existing organisations interested in community service. I venture to express the hope that, one day, this Club will undertake the task of making
comprehensive Survey of Community Service Organisations in Chis Colony. In the meantime, although I cannot pretend to have any expert knowledge in this matter, I offer a few words on the origin and work of the Chinese hospitals in the hope that they may be of some interest to fellow Rotarians, and of some value to the Club as materials for the Survey if and when it is undertaken.
INCORPORATION OF THE HOSPITALS
The Tung Wah Hospital was incorporated by the Tung Wa nospital Incorporation Ordinance 1870. Its foundation stone was laid by Sir Richard Macdonnell on the 9th April 1870, and It was opened by the same Governor in the following year.
The Kwong Wah Hospital was incorporated by the Tung Wah hospital Extension Ordinance 1911. Under this Ordinance the kwong Wah was in effect made a part of the Tung Wah Hospital, and the directors of the Tung Wah were given the same power of management and control over the Kwong Wah as they possessed over the Tung wah. In practice, however, the affairs of the Awong Wah were administered by a local committee, locally elected, until 1930.
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