THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 20TH APRIL, 1905.
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4. Full descriptive printed labels giving information as to source, occurrence, collection or
cultivation, uses, quantity produced and approximate prices of the products.
5. Photographs illustrating the cultivation and preparation of economic products, and also
general views of typical scenery, towns, buildings, etc.
6. Lists, for reference and not for exhibition in the Court, of merchants and others with whom commercial men might be put into communication with regard to particular products.
Each Court of the Colonial Collections as re-organized on these lines, illustrates the general features of a particular Colony, and forms a commercial museum where specimens of the principal natural products of the Colony may be seen and information gained regarding their source, uses and supply.
In addition to the exhibition of products already well known to the markets of the world, it is very important that care should be taken to exhibit products as yet but little known or but little used. The Collections are often visited by persons seeking new sources of supply for well known products and every effort should accordingly be made to ensure that any products available on a commercial scale, but at present, but little, if at all, utilised should be adequately represented, and accompanied by full information.
In addition to the more strictly commercial use of the collections, visits are encouraged from schools, colleges, &c. on certain days, when the visitors are shown over the galleries by members of the staff of the collections and information afforded on the products, and the Colonies whence they are derived.
Numerous applications are received from public schools and museums for duplicate sets of speci- mens to illustrate the economic resources of the Colonies. In the past a large number of specimens were distributed, but this has been impossible recently owing to lack of spare material. The work is of distinct value in extending public knowledge of the Colonies, and it is hoped that sufficient material may be sent to allow it to be continued.
These general observations will serve to indicate the main lines along which the re-organization of the public Collections is being conducted.
The Hongkong Court affords an opportunity of bringing to the notice of commercial men, and others, a representative collection not only of the products and manufactures of the Colony itself, but also of the products of China. This idea is already attained to a certain extent, as the attached cat- alogue of exhibits indicates. Much however remains to be done. To this end the accompanying notes on the present condition and requirements of the Court are intended as suggestions, which if carried out, would render the Court more representative of the products and resources of Hongkong and of its great importance as an entre-pôt of Chinese trade.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 5th April, 1905.
SIR,I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 1st of March enclosing a report on the Hongkong Court of the Imperial Institute, including a statement of the present condi- tion of that Court and of the additions which are required to bring it into conformity with the other Colonial Courts at the Imperial Institute.
2. The letter crossed a note which I addressed to you on February 3rd, 1905, in which I informed you that a collection of articles of Hongkong and South China production and manufacture was in hand. The full information as to requirements with which you have furnished me will be of great valne in completing this collection.
3. The question of extending the area of the space allotted to the Hongkong Court and of corres- pondingly increasing the contribution from this Government had best be considered when the new collection is received in London.
To Professor
WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN, F.R.S.
I have, &c.,
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION. ---No. 234.
The following Return of Books Registered is published.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 20th April, 1905.
M. NATHAN.
F. H. MAY,
Colonial Serietor