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If a building was to be built on the ground, where would the poor have an open space for recreation? Furthermore, the Government had put an objectionable dustbin at one end and a latrine at the other, not a very appropriate setting for receiving Chinese ambassadors and other high officials passing through Hongkong.
The building for the Chamber of Commerce should be entirely independent of Government. The community had experienced difficulties in the administration of Tung Wah Hospital because it had received contributions from Government. The Government consequently exercised some control over it.
To avoid Government interference, Ho A-mei believed that the entire sum for the new building should be subscribed by the Chinese only. This would not be too great a task if everyone would participate. Subscriptions would be welcomed from five cents upward.
After Ho A-mei had finished, Mr. Leung On, the compradore of Messrs. Gibb, Livingston and Company, called upon any present who might not agree with the scheme to speak out. The managers of the meeting did not wish to fall into the same muddle as the foreigners. They wished to have the scheme accepted only if there was the unanimous and hearty approval of all present.
Only one speaker replied. He did not oppose the scheme but expressed the hope that when the project was adopted it would be carried through successfully. He recalled a similar plan had been advanced some twenty years before, but nothing had come of it. Recently the papers had been criticising the Chinese community because it had not fulfilled its plan to put up a statue to Governor Macdonnell after having raised money for it.
Ho A-mei replied that he had no doubt that the present scheme would be successful. The contributions from every guild and association would be needed, but he was confident they would generously give their support. It was a matter of community pride that the Chinese should have such a hall.
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234
If a building was to be built on the ground, where would the poor have an open space for recreation? Furthermore, the Government had put an objectionable dustbin at one end and a latrine at the other, not a very appropriate setting for receiving Chinese ambassadors and other high officials passing through Hongkong.
The building for the Chamber of Commerce should be entirely independent of Government. The community had experienced difficulties in the administration of Tung Wah Hospital because it had received contributions from Government. The Government consequently exercised some control over it.
To avoid Government interference, Ho A-mei believed that the entire sum for the new building should be subscribed by the Chi- nese only. This would not be too great a task if everyone would participate. Subscriptions would be welcomed from five cents up- ward.
After Ho A-mei had finished, Mr. Leung On, the compradore of Messrs. Gibb, Livingston and Company, called upon any present who might not agree with the scheme to speak out. The managers of the meeting did not wish to fall into the same muddle as the foreigners. They wished to have the scheme accepted only if there was the unanimous and hearty approval of all present.
Only one speaker replied. He did not oppose the scheme but expressed the hope that when the project was adopted it would be carried through successfully. He recalled a similar plan had been advanced some twenty years before, but nothing had come of it. Recently the papers had been criticising the Chinese community because it had not fulfilled its plan to put up a statue to Governor Macdonnell after having raised money for it.
Ho A-mei replied that he had no doubt that the present scheme would be successful. The contributions from every guild and asso- ciation would be needed, but he was confident they would gener- ously give their support. It was a matter of community pride that the Chinese should have such a hall.
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