The Brigade has taken its share] in fence measures and has been maintained at its usual high sta te of, efficiency and we thank the officers for the time they have de-the Special Administrative District which, while acknowledging its share of the responsibility, could of Keep up its annual contributions representing its share of the annual deficit. In order to satisfy the Bank the remaining three Councils, namely the British, Russian, and French, had to guarantee a third share each. In the meantime the Russian Council had been converted into the Special District Adminis. tration, Before this newly created Special District would agree to this Jarrangement it demanded that, Chinese patients should be admitted to the hospital. This meant very. considerable inconvenience to the bursing staff as the hospital was} designed for foreign patients only, but it was finally agreed by the Councils, on the recommendation of the Board of Governors, to provide accommodation for two Chinese patients, Towards the end of the year there was considerable feeling expressed by the Special District Administration that the limit of two Water Supply. During the year the Waterworks Company address ed the Council stating that it contemplated increasing the charge for water 20 per cent. A meeting of Councils was convened at which it was decided that as any revigion for' the water rate must be-a matter for arbitration under the terms of agreement with the Company the Council could not entertain this contemplated additional rate.
Telephone service. Repeated communications have been addressed to the Administration calling upon it} to provide foreign supervision of the Exchange and to maintain 2 more efficient service. The Administration intimated that it intended to increase its tariff by 20 per cent, to which the Council replied that it had not consented to such additional charge as controlled under the Agreement with the Council and published a Notification to this effect in the press.
Chinese Qualification as Voters Following your directions from the last Annual Meeting the Council rooms should be abolished, and was preparing the requisite legisla-|Po™ Chinese patients admitted indis- tion to lay before you to-day for criminately.
This, however, was Chinese to be qualified voters. hot agreed to as it meant the risk: of our not having sufficient room for foreign patients, for whom, after all, the Hospital originally was built. Early in this year, 1927, With the changes that the states of the Concession is now going through no longer need consider this subject, Bund Footpath, On the advice continued protests might assist in preserving law and order.
'Here I feel it is appropriate express our very deep appreciation fof the presence of His' Majesty's Navy. We have had several of Hy M, Ships here throughout out troubles, it has been a most dise agreeable detention we feel surg, but Tean assure Admiral Cameron that we realize and appreciate what has been done for us and T take this opportunity on behalf of the Ratepayers. publicly to express out thanks and indebtedness to the sore which has prevented us front coming to any bodily harm. Also. would like to take this opportunity: to record the very pleasant. relax tions that existed. throughout last year between myself and the Chairs man of the French Council, Lecomte.
To continue, one of our main, Wore jes was the frequent passage of armed parties through the Concession, which, in spite of all protests Jand conceding especial routes for the movement of these parties, werd ted in. The attitude of thong parties frequently was such that if beyond the power of the Polied to interfere with them, and it wad only by erecting sand barricades fand frequently manning them by. HM, Navy and the Volunteers that these parties could occasionally, be diverted along the routes which Of 713, those absent being practical those people cut of port.
'After reading the notice calling the meeting the Chair called on Mr, A. C, Burn, Chairman of the! Council to make' his speech. Mr.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.