Page 13 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

Financial underwriting for the project will come from three
sources mainly - pledges from Mission Boards through the China Committee
of the Asia Department in New York; a sizeable grant from the Kresge
Foundation in the United States; and the local campaign in which we now
undertake to raise HK$180,000.

It is hoped that the Christian Centre will be a Christian symbol,
a constant witness, a place of Christian service and a Centre of
Christian nurture in international and interdenominational relations
radiating to every corner of Hong Kong.

Contributions to reduce cost of maintenance and underwrite new
program developments will be most welcome from individuals and churches
eithorlocal or abroad.

2. Committee for a United Christian Hospital

In the past twelve months,many positive steps have been taken
toward making the proposed United Christian Hospital a reality. In
mid-1965, the levelling commenced on the site, which is a hill in
North Kowloon earmarked by the Hong Kong Government as a free grant
for this hospital. The site formation is scheduled for completion
in 1967.

Dr. E. H. Paterson, Medical Director for the project, wrote a
paper entitled: "A Study in a United Christian Hospital", which has
been distributed widely to interested individuals and groups. The
Study outlines the ideas which have developed on the details of the
hospital and is intended to inform people, elicit their constructive
criticism, and serve as a basis for further planning. While on home
leave in England, Dr. Paterson visited new hospitals, and gathered
considerable information for this hospital.

At the invitation of the Committee for a United Christian Hospital,
the Board of Missions of the Methodist Church (USA) appointed Mr. Richard
B. Blakney to a five-year missionary term. He has been seconded to
this project as full-time Planning Officer. In September 1965, Mr.
Blakney arrived in Hong Kong with his wife and family. An office was
set up in Morrison Memorial Centre shortly thereafter.

A Planning Team, chaired by Dr. Paterson, with Miss Chan Wing Han,
Dr. Ding Lik Kiu, Mr. John S. MacKeith and the Planning Officer as
members, has met frequently since September 1965 with the initial
task of detailing the functional program; that is defining what services
will be offered in the hospital and deciding what methods, personnel,
equipment and space are required to accomplish the program. This
hospital must be designed to fit our program rather than having to
tailor the program to fit the building. The Brief for the Architect
was completed in February 1966.

An Architect Selection Committee evaluated several, local architects
in considerable detail. We have appointed as Architect the firm of
W* Szeto, which is a firm of high professional competence and sound
organization with a staff of over sixty persons. The Brief has been
forwarded to the Architect, and the sketch plan development is underway.

We have also retained as consultant, Mr, E. Todd Wheeler of Chicago,
Illinois, an expert in hospital planning, who has offered his services
on generous terms. Mr. Wheeler made his initial visit here in January,
1966. His primary task is concerned with the preliminary planning
effort, that is consultation on the functional and architectural programs,
on the schematic plans and site studies, and finally on the design
development.

As the planning progresses for this hospital, it has become necessary
to strengthen the supporting organizational structure. Accordingly three
sub-committees are being formed, the Building Committee, the Finance &
Promotion Committee, and the Staffing Committee.
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