Page:Europe in China.djvu/480

462 not charitable, but rather to have a place where dying business-employees might be deposited, to avoid the troublous rites and ceremonies connected with death, and where encoffined bodies might be stored awaiting removal to the mainland. This institution was established, in the centre of Taipingshan. unbeknown to the Government. In May, 1869, accident led to the discovery that sick persons were dumped there and left to die like dogs, untended and uncared for, except that there were coffins ready for them. When the foreign community raised an outcry, the Chinese came forward with liberal subscriptions towards the erection of a Chinese Hospital, and, as it was a clear case for the application of the Special Fund, Sir Richard at once offered a grant of $15,000 in addition to a free site near Possession Point. The I-tsze was forthwith converted into a temporary hospital conducted on Chinese principles, as nearly all Chinese in the Colony would rather die like dogs than enter the Government Civil Hospital. It was originally proposed that the piece of land granted by Government should be vested in trustees and that the permanent hospital, to be built there, should be carried on under a trustdeed. But the Attorney General (J. Pauncefote) wisely suggested to form a corporation which would build and manage the hospital through a board of Chinese directors under proper supervision by the Government. Thus the Tungwa Hospital was established by Ordinance (3 of 1870) as an eleemosynary corporation. By the special order of Sir Richard, a provision was included in this Ordinance to make sure that, if the corporation should fail to carry out in a satisfactory manner the objects and purposes of the Ordinance, the incorporation should be repealed and the property of the hospital, subject to the payment of debts, should then vest in the Crown. The new hospital was speedily erected and opened by Sir Richard on February 14, 1872, when he announced that the Government had voted (out of the Special Fund) a further sum of $115,000 for the purposes of the hospital. He also praised the Chinese for their liberality in guaranteeing annual subscriptions to the extent of $7,000, but warned them that, if any abuses should