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brief review of the principal acts of my administration here, which has lasted for nearly three years. These years have been very critical and eventful both as regards this Colony, the centre of British power, influence and commerce in the Far East, and also as regards European interests generally in this quarter of the globe, which contains one-fourth of the human race, and which must yet fill a great place in the history of the world.
3. Soon after my assumption of this Government in the early part of the year 1883, I satisfied myself, after careful study of the position of your affairs, that there were three subjects of pressing importance to which I should first direct my special attention. These were :—-
(a.) The reconstitution of the Legislative Council.
(b.) The commencement of the much-needed Works of Water-supply and Sanitation. (e.) The Defence of the Colony.
4. To the reconstitution of this Council, so as to make it representative of the Colony generally, I attached primary importance; for when an energetic English community like that of Hongkong has acquired an adequate voice and control in the management of its own local and municipal affairs, all necessary and well-considered internal reforms should follow. Accordingly, I procured the assent of the Imperial Government to a large increase in the number of the un-official members, while I gave the privilege of freely nominating their own representatives to the two principal Public Bodies, viz. the Bench of Magistrates and the Chamber of Commerce, which comprise the chief residents of every nationality. Thus the property, intelligence, and education of the Colony are now directly repre- sented in this Council. I observed in a previous address: "it will always be one of the most satisfactory reminiscences of my long public career that I have been able to procure a more adequate representation in this Council of the community at large."
5. Again, when I found that under the former law of this Colony, the power of assessing the Municipal taxation was vested solely in the Governor, I procured the consent of Her Majesty's Government to the removal of this anomaly, which was probably without precedent in any other part of the British Empire. Thus, here as elsewhere, the entire taxation of the Colony will henceforth be under the control of the Colonial Legislature.
6. Moreover, in opening the Session for 1884, I addressed you as follows: "For obvious reasons, it is in the highest degree important that this Council should adhere to the constitutional forms followed by the Legislatures of the other principal Crown Colonies. The address of the Governor at the opening of each annual Session will contain, here as elsewhere, a general view of the Financial and Social condition of the Colony, and a statement of the Legislative and other measures, and of the public works proposed. So the Address of the Council in reply will afford the members of the Legislature the usual constitutional opportunity of expressing their opinion of the conduct and proposals of the Government." To these observations you replied as follows: "We concur in the advisability of assimilating the proceedings of this Legislature to the constitutional forms established in the other principal Crown Colonies.'
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7. Simultaneously with the steps taken towards the reconstitution of this Council, I gave authority, with your consent, for the commencement of those large measures of Water-supply and Sanitation, which Mr. CHADWICK, the Commissioner sent out from England, had reported to be absolutely necessary "for the immediate benefit of the public health;" but which were in abeyance on my arrival. Among the more prominent of these public works have been the very extensive improvements and additions to the main drainage of the City; and to the roadways and pavements, more especially in the Chinese quarters; together with the organization of a complete system of practical sanitation and daily removal of waste products; the reclamation and embanking of noxious foreshores at Kennedy Town, Hung- hom, and Yaumáti, and their conversion into healthy and remunerative building land; the extension of the City to the westward, and the opening out of new areas to the commercial and industrial enterprise of the Colony; the construction of mountain roads for the health and recreation of the community, and the utilization of mountain sites for the erection of summer residences; the continued spread of tree-planting in the hitherto arid hill districts of the island, to the eventual amelioration of the climate; these, and many other kindred works of scarcely less interest to the health and well- being of the people, have been inaugurated with your assistance and by your votes, during my adminis-
tration.
8. You are already aware that, while authorising the works required for the internal health and progress of the Colony, I took early and effective measures for its external defence. On May 12th, 1883, only six weeks after my assumption of this Government, I opened the question of the Defences in an elaborate despatch to the Secretary of State, in which, after entering fully into detailed statements and arguments, I added: "It has been frequently shown that Hongkong commands our trade routes in the Far East; that shipping to the amount of above five millions of tons (a larger tonnage than that which entered the Port of London forty years ago), yearly enters this Port; and that it is of paramount importance not to suffer any nation, or possible confederacy of nations, to destroy or lessen the prestige and influence of Great Britain with China and Japan, those rich and vast countries which have in all human probability a great future before them." I concluded in the following terms:----- "I submit that your Lordship should move the War Office to prepare a full and final plan for the