been leased out in lots at 99 years, yielding a yearly rental now amounting to $1,231.50.
For some years the question was discussed of removing the Hospital from Seranggong Road to a more favourable site. There had therefore been no building of new wards, except two experimental ones constructed by the Government a few years ago. The Government has now erected entirely new buildings, of a permanent nature, on Moulmein Road. For this new foundation no call has been made upon the general funds of the Corporation, but the Government expenditure was lessened by the generous gift by Towkay Loke Yew of $50,000, which, having been kept at interest for some time, swelled to $58,960.24; also by a legacy of $4,000 from Wee Boon Teck, who was at the time of his death, in 1888, a member of the Committee of Management. This remained on fixed deposit at cumulative interest until last year, when it reached a total of $9,073.18. This legacy having been made for the construction of a new ward, it was also handed over to Government to be used in the construction of one of the wards in the new buildings, which is inscribed with the testator's name. Similarly, five wards have been named after Towkay Loke Yew and one after Mr. Tan Beng Swee.
On the completion of the new Hospital (vested in the Corporation in exchange for the old property, which was formally surrendered), it was decided, with the sanction of His Excellency the Governor, that it should continue to bear the name of the Founder, Tan Tock Seng, and a new tablet was prepared for the entrance with the following additional historical inscription:—
Tan Tock Seng's Hospital For the Sick Poor of all Nations Incorporated by Ordinance VII of 1880, and supported by Government with the aid of Voluntary Contributions.
The original hospital was built in 1844 by Mr. Tan Tock Seng at bis own charges and was afterwards enlarged at the expense of bis son, Mr. Tan Kim Ching.
It was removed to a new site, in Seranggong Road, by the Government of India in 1860, and additional wards were added in 1879 by Mr. Tan Beng Swee, and at subsequent dates by the Straits Settlements Government.
The present buildings, erected at a cost of $481.210 (including the cost of site), principally from Government funds, with the aid of a donation of $50,000 by Mr. Loke Yew and a bequest made by Mr. Wee Boon Teck, were completed in 1909, Sir John Anderson, K.C.M.G., being Governor of the Straits Settlements.
