THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 26TH FEBRUARY, 1898. 179
of completion, but your Excellency has inaugurated many useful works and when they are completed--such as the Peak roads the road leading from Plantation Road to Magazine Gap, the new houses that are to be built in Taipingshan, and other new works which your Excellency has caused to be inaugurated-all these, when completed, I say, will remind the Colony of your energetic and what I might call sanitary governinent. The financial position of the Colony has steadily improved from year to year under your Excellency's administra- tion, and now I venture to think that the colonial finances are so much improved as to be placed on a sound and healthy basis, pessimistic views to the contrary notwithstanding. Now, Sir, in bidding you farewell to-day I wish to tender you my personal thanks for unvarying kind assistance I have received at your bands as the senior representative of the Chinese community. I have on more than one occasion-in fact, on many occasions-made representations on behalf of the Chinese to your Excellency. You have always received such representations most kindly and subjected them to your kindest consideration. You have granted a great number of requests, and the few occasions on which you have found refusal necessary you have carefully explained the reason why the requests could not be granted. I wish to thank you further for the interest you have always taken in Chinese affairs and most especially for the increased representation which you have given to them on this Council. The honourable member whom you have so happily nominated to be the junior member of this Council will represent the Chinese in many ways much better than I, and will render the greatest assistance in looking after and protecting their interests. Now, I am sure that my honourable friend, Mr. WE A YUK, will join with me in assuring your Excellency that by this act alone you have won the lasting gratitude of the Chinese com- munity of this Colony. Now, Sir, as probably this is the last time you will preside over us in this Council I, as a member of this Council, wish you good-bye and all future happiness and prosperity.
Mr. WEI A YUK addressed the Council as follows:
Your Excellency, my honourable friend and honourable colleague has so well and fully expressed my own views and sentiments with regard to your Excellency that he has left me nothing more to add than to express my entire concurrence with his remarks. I join with him in wishing your Excellency health, happiness, and prosperity.
Mr. BELL-IRVING addressed the Council as follows:-
I have listened with interest and with great pleasure to the remaks made by the senior unofficial member and by the two nnofficial menibers representing the Chinese community, and with all of them I fully concur. The Honourable Dr. Ho Kai has referred to the great consideration which you have shown to all questions affecting the welfare of the Chinese community, and I would like also to mention the support you have always taken in all matters in connection with the commercial progress and prosperity of this Colony during the past six years. During that period you have warmly supported the many new industrial undertakings started in this Colony and in many other ways helped the mercantile commu- nity, who, I consider, have good cause to be most grateful to you. I also desire to wish you long life and every happiness in the future.
Mr. BELILIOS addressed the Council as follows:-
Your Excellency, the honourable members who have just spoken have actually taken the wind out of my sails and I have very little to add to the remarks which have been made. As the oldest member of the Jewish community in Hongkong I can endorse every word of praise that has been spoken. To be brief, I can only say that by your departure we shall lose a kind friend, a good associate, and an able colleague, and I can only trust that those who succeed you will follow the example you have set in your career, which I am certain will result in the happiness of the inhabitants generally of this Island. With these words, Sir, I wish you farewell and happy meetings with friends in the old country.
His Excellency the Governor again addressed the Council as follows:---
Gentlemen, it only remains for me to reiterate my hearty thanks to you for the kindness you have shown ine and for the handsome tribute you have just paid to my administration. It is certainly gratifying to me to know that I leave the Colony in a very good position and that I have given satisfaction not only to the public generally but to the Chinese, who form an important part of the community. I can only claim to have done my duty honestly and without fear, favour, affection, or ill-will, and I am quite sure that my successor will follow in my steps.
ADJOURNMENT.The Council adjourned sine die.
Read and confirmed, this 23rd day of February, 1898.
J. G. T. BUCKLE,
Clerk of Councils.
WILSONE BLACK,
Officer Administering the Government.