No. 1904
HONGKONG.
SIR H. A. BLAKE'S SERVICES AS GOVERNOR.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government.
HONGKONG.
No. 18.
DOWNING STREET,
13th January, 1904.
SIR,--I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 543 of the 27th of November, forwarding extracts from the local press relating to the presentation of Addresses to Sir H. A. BLAKE on his departure from the Colony to assume the Government of Ceylon.
2. I have read these reports with great interest and have been much pleased to note the evidence which they afford of the esteem in which Sir H. A. BLAKE is held by all classes of the community. I cordially agree with all that has been said as to the ability and success with which he has administered the Government of Hongkong.
3. The period of his administration has been marked by events of such im- portance to the well-being of the Colony, such as the hoisting of the British flag in the territory leased by China under the Agreement of the 8th of June, 1898, mul the inauguration of works for providing an additional and adequate water supply for the city of Victoria. It has also, unfortunately, been marked by serious out- breaks of bubonic plague and by no means the least part of the debt of gratitude which the Colony owes to its late Governor is due to the vigour and energy which he has displayed in the endeavour to check the mortality from this disease and to diminish, so far as possible, the danger of further outbreaks.
I have, &c.,
ALFRED LYTTELTON.
The Officer Administering the Government of
HONGKONG.
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