1014
HONGKONG
Tathong Point Light-Fl. W. R. every 5 seconds, visible 2 miles. Fog Bells every
30 seconds.
Cape Collinson Light-Double Fl. W. R. every 10 seconds, visible 16 miles.
Lyeemoon Pass Lights-North Side: Fl. R. every 5 seconds. South Side: Fl. R.
every 5 seconds.
Channel Rocks-Fl. every 5 seconds.
Cust Rock Beacon-Fl. every 3 seconds.
Chin Sal Chiu Point Light-Fl. W. R. every 3 seconds, visible 10 miles.
The harbour of Hongkong is one of the finest and most beautiful in the world, having an area of ten square miles, and, with its diversified scenery and varied shipping, presents an animated and imposing spectacle. It consists of the sheet of water between the island and the mainland, and is enclosed on all sides by lofty hills, formerly destitute of foliage, but now becoming clothed, especially on the island, with young forests, the result of the afforestation scheme of the Government. The city of Victoria is magnificently situated, the houses, many of them large and handsome, rising, tier upon tier, from the water's edge to a height of over five hundred feet on the face of the Peak, while many buildings are visible on the very summit of the hills. Seen from the water at night, when lights twinkle among the trees and houses, the city, spreading along the shore for five miles, affords a sight not readily to be forgotten.
Nor on landing are the favourable impressions of the stranger dissipated or lessened. The city is well built, the roads and streets are for the most part admirably made and kept, and a few of the thoroughfares delightfully shaded with well-grown trees. The European business quarter occupies the middle of the city, from Pottinger Street to the Naval Yard. Álmost all the lower levels, especially the Western District, are covered by a mass of Chinese shops and tenements, in recent years a large number of the older of these have been pulled down and replaced by more modern buildings of ferro-concrete, many of them well designed and fine looking edifices. The Botanic Gardens are situated just above Government House, and are tastefully laid out in terraces, slopes, and walks, with parterres of flowers. A handsome fountain adorns the second terrace. There is a bandstand, presented by the Parsee community and open air concerts are given in the gardens during the summer months which prove a great attraction. Aviaries, orchid houses, and ferneries are attractive features, and seats are provided in every spot where a view is obtainable or shade afforded by the varied foliage. A fine bronze statue of Sir Arthur Kennedy, Governor of the Colony, 1872-6, erected by public subscription, stands above the second terrace looking down on the fountain. It was unveiled in November, 1887, by Governor Sir William Des Vœux. A pilau erected to the memory of the Chinese who gave their lives in the great war of 1914-1918, was un- veiled on 7th May, 1928, by Sir Cecil Clementi, K.C.M.G. It stands just above the flight of steps giving entrance to the gardens from Albert Road, and is in every way a fitting memorial. The City Hall, erected in 1866-9 by subscription, contains a theatre, numerous large rooms used for balls and public meetings (in one of which, known as St. George's Hall, is a fine portrait of the late Queen Victoria, presented by the late Sir Thomas Jackson, Bart., in 1900), a Library and a Museum-both of which how- ever, have a neglected appearance. Eastward of the City Hall is a fine open space or lung, in the shape of the Parade Ground, south of the road, and the Cricket Ground on the north. Here a new pavilion was erected in 1923 and extended in 1927.
The Post Office, an imposing building in which several other Government depart- ments are accommodated, occupies a site with frontages on the Praya, Pedder Street and Des Voeux Road. The Courts of Justice were designed by Sir Aston Webb and Mr. E. Ingress Bell, consulting architects to the Government of Great Britain. The foundation stone was laid in 1903 and the building was completed at a cost of $856,310 and opened in January, 1912. Immediately opposite on the sea ward side and appropriately occupying what was long known as "the finest site," stands the Colony's War Memorial-a replica of the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London--which was unveiled. by H.E. Sir R. E. Stubbs and dedicated to "The Glorious Dead" on Empire Day, 1923. The monument, which is of granite, stands 35 ft. high. Occupying a site in the centre of Statue Square to the west of the Courts of Justice stands the Jubilee statue of H.M. Queen Victoria, the erection of which was postponed until this site became available; it was unveiled on the 28th May, 1896. The statue represents Queen Victoria seated on her throne, and is of bronze under a stone canopy. Close by, there was formerly a fine bronze statue of the Duke of Connaught, presented to the Colony by Sir Paul Chater. It was unveiled by Sir William Gascoigne on