QUEEN'S JUBILEE MEDALS-2
1053
Yesterday, the list of those local residents who were honoured with Diamond Jubilee medals was given. These awards were given in recognition of the labour put in by various committees when Queen Victoria's jubilee was celebrated here, and consisted of gold and silver medals struck by request of H.E. the Governor, Sir William Robinson. Presentations took place at Government House on December 11, 1897, the Governor making a short speech in which he referred to the service rendered by the recipients.
The Hon. Mr. C.P. (later Sir Paul) Chater, C.M.G. said: "Your Excellency,- On behalf of the Jubilee Committee I have to thank you for the decorations you have presented to us, and which I am sure will always be valued as pleasant mementos of this most willingly rendered without the least thought of reward or recognition beyond the success which I am proud to say we achieved. It was more due to your Excellency and to your personal energy and interest that this gratifying result was attained. (Hear, hear). This interesting event will always be associated with your Excellency's administration, and will ever constitute a most pleasing link between yourself and this Colony which neither time nor distance can sever. (Hear, hear).
His Excellency said: "Major-General Black and Mr. Chater, I thank you for your kind words regarding my part on this occasion. My name will be found on my medals, and I esteem it a very great honour to have been Governor of this prosperous Colony during that event. I am sure this will form a golden link between myself and the Colony over which I have presided for six years. (Hear, hear).
The presentation of decorations over, reported the Hongkong Telegraph, His Excellency then invited the guests to partake of some refreshments in the adjoining room. An adjournment was therefore made to the dining room, where His Excellency announced that he had forgotten to mention in the course of his address that the Secretary of State for the Colonies had approved the wearing of the ribbon in this Colony and he (the Governor) had specially requested that it be authorised in the Mother Country, so that all the recipients of the decoration could show wherever they went that they were members of the great federated British Empire that is to be in the future.
The Certificate.- With each medal there was also presented a letter signed by His Excellency the Governor enclosing a certificate of award, on vellum, reading as follows:
"1837-1897: Jubilee Gold Medal: Hongkong, 22nd June, 1897.
This is to certify that one Jubilee Gold (or silver, as the case may be) medal has been presented to... for services rendered in connection with the celebration in Hongkong of the Sixtieth Anniversary of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria's Reign. (Signed) William Robinson, Governor.
The medal was about the size of a 50-cent piece. On one side was a portrait of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, surmounted by a Crown and bearing the inscription "Victoria Regina et Imperatrix". On the other side there was a representation of a modern frigate and a Chinese junk, and the inscription: "Hongkong: Sir William Robinson, G.C.M.G. Governor; to Commemorate Sixty Years of Her Majesty's Reign, 1837-1897."