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April 7, 1906.]
ALICE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.
ANNUAL MEETING OF FINANCE Ċ MHITTER.
The notice convening the meeting having been read, the minutes of the previous meeting were coufirned.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT
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hospital was commenced through their finding | $1,000 subscription, therefore so far as he that the Alice Memorial Hospital, while most could understand there would not be a lack of admirably suited for out-patient work, was unfit sympathisers of the committee, and the authority for the more serious cases, especially surgical representing the London Mission would The annual meeting of the Finance Committee cases. There was another matter they had to take this work in hand. It was a work they of the Alice Memorial and Nethersole Hospitals consider, and that was that some patients should have begun long before, but had been was held in the Alice Memorial Hospital yes-required small wards for themselves. In the kept back by their needs on this side of the terday afternoon. Hon. Mr. A. W. Brewin new hospital six private wards were partitioned water. Very soon Kowloon would be teeming presided, and there were also present-Dr. I. E. off, so they would be ready to receive patients with a population far surpassing that Mitchell secretary), Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Revs. who had to te isolated. Besides, a large number Hongkong. The railway would soon be started. T. W. Pearce and H. R. Well, Messrs. G. of Chiness in indigent circumstances, while and the industries which would follow its Murray Baiu, D. Clark, S. W. Tso, Lau unable to go to the Civil Hospital and pay a completion, would attract a large labouring Chu-pak, Choi Lap-chee, Fung Wa-chun, U.higher fee, would no doubt be very glad to use population who would require & free Hoi-chow and others,
these wards, and on recovering might give a and charitable hospital to take care of them subscription according to their means. In and teach them sanitary science, which the accordance with a former practice he would Government and every man in the room was formally more that this new hospital be affiliated anxious the Chinese, should learn. A sub- committee might be appointed to get further subscriptions for a now hospital at Yaumati. The Tungwa Hospital, he understood, would like also to extend their work over there, and he believed the inhabitants of Kowloon had sent a communication asking for such help. They had always worked hand in hand with the Tungwa Hospital. and Dr. Mitohell and others could bear him out that they received a large number of cases from the Tangwa and did the best they could with them. On the other hand, if they had any cases which required to be sent to the Tungwa, they did not hesitate to send them there.
that
The CHAIRMAN announced that they had approached the executors of the late Mr. Granville Sharp's estate with a view to getting assistance, but were iuformed by them they had no power to assist in any way. They then addressed a letter to the registrar of the Supreme Court and he promised to consider the scheme to FC0 whether any available balance could be given to assist the hospital, but he was not in a position at that time to say whether any balance was available.
Mr. MITCHELL presented his report as Superintendent, which was laid on the table.
The Rev. H. R. WELLS, hon. treasurer, in submitting his report, said that members would see from the accounts that despite the fact of their having received over $10,000 in donations last year they were still behind owing to expenses continually growing. This year they would have to meet further expense, the expense. of collecting. From this
time
with
the Alice Memorial and Nethersole Hospitals, and be placed under exactly the same management and control,
Mr. Tso seconded the motion.
Rer. Mr. PEARCE said he trusted the meeting would regard the resolution as fitting. It did not require many words of commendation. He regarded this hospital as one of the best gifts that had fallen to the Colony.
The motion was carried.
Mr. FUNG WA-CHUN said if he was not mistaken be thought H.E. the Governor was desirous of having a bospital of the kind mentioned at Yaumati. The building of an institution of this kind would at least cost from $30,000 to $10 1,000, and this amount would have to come from the Chinese. He was not against the scheme, but he thought it rather premature.
The CHAIRMAN remarked that the Rev. Mr Wells had referred to the subject of the future collection of the annual donations. As that gentleman remarked, up till now, as far as Chinese subscriptions were concerned, they had always been dependent on one of the members of the finance committee doing the collec.ing. They were very grateful to gentlemen who had devoted so much time to this work, but they felt now the hospital was established that they were not justified it was intended to have some.
in calling upon these very busy gentle one to go round and collect subscriptions men to give so much of their time towards which were formerly collected by members of collecting subscriptions. He thought they the finance committee. Unfortunately the divid- might well spare the money to pay a collector. The CHAIRMAN said it must be very gratify. ends on their shares had dropped very largely The collection of subscriptions from Europeansing to all interested in the extension of hospitals during the year, and it seemed that they would was also carried on in a rather haphazard way; in Hongkong to see such an instance of private drop still further this year: therefore they they had to take one of the boys from his work munificence in assisting in the building of a would have to redouble their efforts. On Land in the hospital and send him round to collect. hospital at Yaumati. De. Ho Kai mentioned Investment shares they get $1.852,50 last year, He proposed a small committee should be that the Government had been anxious for but they should probably receive several hund-appointed to consider how subscriptions should some time to start a hospital on th other side, dred less this year. He trusted members be collected in the future and to recommend to and explained that they had already reserved would endeavour to increase the amount of their the treasurer some inan to do the work. The site iu a central position on which subscriptions.
committee he suggested would be Dr. Ho Kai, hospital was to be built. I think, Mr. Wood, Rer. Mr. Well, Chau Sui-Ki, Lad as Mr. Fung Wa-chun said, it would be Chu-pak, Fun Yau-tsun and the speaker. premature for the Alice Memorial Hospital to take this matter in hand without consulting more widely the Chinese, to whom we have to look for subscriptions. The finance committes should approach the Tungwa Hospital and see whether any scheme could be arranged which would meet with the general support of the Chinese community. At present the Tungwa Hospital cost about $60,000. a
year to maintain, so
they could not embark on venture of this kind without assuring thems-Ives
that they would meet with general support,
Mr. BAIN had great pleasure in moring the adoption of the treasurer's report. It was not so bright as it might have been. but other reports showed in the same light. He thought the least, they could do was to thank the trea surer for his work They should also thank the Chairman and auditors.
Mr. Tso, in seconding the motion, said he thought the guarantee fund should be included in the report.
The CHAIRMAN said the secretary would see that the list of guarantors, and the amount they subscribed, was inserted in next year's report, and the motion was carried.
Rev. Mr. PEARCE mored that the Hon. Mr. Brewin be re appointed chairman. They could not find a better chairman, neither could they find one as good.
Rev. Mr. WELLS seconded the motion. Mr. Brewin had done a great deal to help in raising money, as the members of committee knew.
The motion was agreed to unanimously. Mr. BREWIN, in returning thanks, said he wou'd have much pleasure in serving for another. year, He thought his duties were the least onerous of any gentleman connected with the hospital, and he could only assure the treasurer that he would give him every assistance possible in keeping the finances of the hospital in a satisfactory condition (applause). During the year some additions had been made to the personnel of the finance committee, and he moved that the appointment of Mossrs. Choi Lap-chee, Ho Kom-tong, Li Yau-chün, Pun Yau-tsun, U Hoi-chan and Wong Fa-nung to that body be confirmed.
Mr. FUNG WA-CHUN seconded,
Dr. Ho KAI asked that the chairman of the Tungwa Hospital be also appointed a member.
This was agreed to, and the motion was carried. Dr. Ho KAI said as the now hospital, the Ho Mui Kwai, was now completed, he hoped arrangements would be made by the proper authorities for it being opened in the very near future. It was unnecessary that he should go into the history of the movement, but he would inform the committee that the building of that,
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Mr. FUNG WA-CHUN seconded, and the motion was carried.
Dr. Ho KAI said he felt it his duty to bring before the meeting a proposal made by a certain gentleman to give the hospital a subscription. The Government was very anxions to get an institution of the same kind as the Alice Memorial Hospital at Kowloon for the dispensing of medicine aud for out-patients, and for that purpose had reserved a plot of land. He was not acquainted with the ground reserved, but was assured by Dr. Clark that it was an admirable place, quite suitable for a hospital. It so happened that while be was considering whether they could not extend their work over there, and while he was devising means for the or. ction of such an ins. titution, & gentleman from New Zealand entered his office, and after speaking for a time of charity said he would help to found nu institution for the blind. The speaker told him he thought prevention was better than cure, and, if they extended the hospital over there they would prevent a great number of boys and girls becoming blind, and thus render unnecessary the expending of his munificent gift in founding an orphanage for the blind. The gentleman saw the force of the doctor's argument, and promised to subscribe $5,000 towards extending the Alice Memorial Hospital to Kowloon, and in the near future to add to his magnificent gift. Under the circumstances he thought he would bring the matter before the committee. He was aware some gentlemen held another view of the subject, and hoped if they had any reasons for opposing the scheme they would give them. He had seen several Chinese gentlemen in connection with the matter. Some of them were present and would say whether it was feasible that they should extend their operations to Kowloou. Before be came to the meeting a Chinese gentleman on the finance committee, who was unable to attend, kindly handed him $50 towards the hospital. The same gentleman spoke favourably of the scheme and promised a
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Dr. Ho Kat said he should like to hear froin the Rev. Mr. Pearce, asrepresenting the London Mission, his view of the subject.
Rev. Mr. PEARCA said that with regard to the extension of philanthropic work the London Mission Society would do what it could to take. advantage of every opportunity for enlargement. The Mission would be delighted to strengthen any bond of sympathy with the Tungwa, and would do everything it could do to work with that hospital. He was not speaking officially, but could assure those present that the Mission would do everything in its power to extend the work, at the same time, of course, keeping to its own proper lines.
Dr. Ho Kat moved that a sub-committee be aupointed, consisting of all the Chines + members of the finance committee, the Hon. Mr. Brewin, Rev. Mr. Wells, Mr. Wood and himself, to confer with the Tungwa Hospital committee with a view to taking joint action in the matter, or arranging a way in which they should be able to promote a hospital at Kowloon, by which both might be able to carry out the important work of healing the sick,
Mr. BAIN thought the first duty of the committee was to accept the site which it was proposed to give them at Kowloon. Then they should accept the money and negotiate with the Tungwa Hospital.
Dr. Ho KAI said they could not accept the money first, as it was promised in consideration of their extending to Kowloon,
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