194
Responsibility for the general welfare of the Chinese in Hong Kong was assumed by the hospital directors past and present.
Their espousal of Chinese causes led them into conflict with certain European interests. It was felt they wielded too much influence over the Chinese. Their connections with Chinese authorities also caused alarm.
Many aspects of life and business of the Chinese in Hong Kong were connected with China, hence, there were many occasions when it was necessary to correspond and negotiate with Chinese officials.
There was sharp criticism in the English language press against the committee for taking upon itself matters which were considered to be the proper concern of the Hong Kong Government.
Because of this, a public meeting was held at the hospital in 1875 to discuss whether it was “advisable to have a Kung Soh or Town Hall built so as to separate the functions of the committee from that of the general community in order to avoid further criticism." There was no consensus of opinion on the matter.
Two years earlier, the Registrar General, who was responsible for relations between the Government and the Chinese, had asked the Tung Wah Hospital Committee to select two men from each district of the city to serve as headmen of the district watchmen.
The Committee had demurred stating it would like to see a separation of their duties as the committee of the hospital and as leaders of the kaifong. The Governor agreed that a separation was desirable.
One of the difficulties was that if the functions of the two groups were to be separated, as most felt should be done, the kaifong needed a proper meeting place.
At the time of the discussion concerning the desirability of separating hospital matters from general community affairs in 1875, the Chinese submitted a petition to the Government asking
194
Responsibility for the general welfare of the Chinese in Hong- kong was assumed by the hospital directors past and present.
Their espousal of Chinese causes led them into conflict with certain European interests. It was felt they wielded too much influ- ence over the Chinese. Their connections with Chinese authorities also caused alarm.
Many aspects of life and business of the Chinese in Hongkong were connected with China, hence, there were many occasions when it was necessary to correspond and negotiate with Chinese officials.
There was sharp criticism in the English language press against the committee for taking upon itself matters which were consid- ered to be the proper concern of the Hongkong Government.
Because of this, a public meeting was held at the hospital in 1875 to discuss whether it was “advisable to have a Kung Soh or Town Hall built so as to separate the functions of the committee from that of the general community in order to avoid further criticism." There was no consensus of opinion on the matter.
Two years earlier, the Registrar General, who was responsible for relations between the Government and the Chinese, had asked the Tung Wah Hospital Committee to select two men from each district of the city to serve as headmen of the district watchmen,
The Committee had demurred stating they it would like to see a separation of their duties as the committee of the hospital and as leaders of the kaifong. The Governor agreed that a separation was desirable.
One of the difficulties was that if the functions of the two groups were to be separated, as most felt should be done, the kaifong needed a proper meeting place.
At the time of the discussion concerning the desirability of separating hospital matters from general community affairs in 1875, the Chinese submitted a petition to the Government asking
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