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"Surrounding the three sides of the statue, which was well set off by masses of palms and ferns placed in banks about the base, were nearly 2,000 troops composed of detachments from the Royal Navy and Marine Light Infantry on the right flank, followed in succession by the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, Rifle Brigade, the Hongkong Regiment, and the Hongkong Volunteers, the whole being under the command of Colonel Anstey, R.E. The se marched into position shortly after 5 o'clock. Long previous to this the invited guests were accommodated to the number of 1,000 in matshed temporarily erected on the water side of the square, and thousands of Chinese were permitted to occupy two large squares inside the enclosure, while outside the enclosure, which was bounded by the Banks and City Hall, the Cricket Club and Ice House Road, were many thousands of sightseers all eager to witness the ceremonies. Among those in the stand were the subscribers to the (Jubilee) Fund still in the colony, all the Civil, Military and Naval Officers, the Consular representatives of the various powers in Hongkong, the heads of the many prosperous firms which have done so much to make Hongkong what it is, and all the prominent residents, together with their wives and daughters, the whole forming a most brilliant assembly.
"Promptly at 5.15 p.m. his Excellency the Governor accompanied by his staff and the high military and naval authorities, appeared in view, whereupon the troops were brought to attention and shouldered arms. His Excellency and staff then proceeded to their places in the centre of the Stand, where beneath the Royal Arms, His Excellency faced about, the troops presented arms, and to the strains of the national anthem the Royal Standard was fluttered in the south-west breeze,
The Hon. Mr. C.P. (later Sir Paul) Chater, the Chairman of the Jubilee Statue Committee, then stepped forward and in a speech asked his excellency to unveil the statue. Mr. Chater spoke at some length on behalf of the people of the Colony, and the Governor made a speech in reply.
His Excellency, with the troops at the "present then pulled the cord which lifted the standard veiling the statue, and "amid the deafening cheers of the thousands of all nationalities present and the strains of "God Save the Queen" by the bands, the image of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria was displayed in view. Then thrice round the square rattled out the feu de joie from the troops, followed by Royal salutes from the military on the Praya and from the Commodore's flagship, the Victor Emanuel."
The troops were then drawn up and marched past the stand, saluting the Royal Standard and the representative of Her Majesty as they passed, and left the square.
The photograph reproduced here gives a vivid impression of the memorable occasion.
The Governor, Sir Wm. Robinson, despatched a loyal telegram to England recording the ceremony, and the newspaper on the following day reproduces it, as follows:
Telegram from H.E. the Governor to the Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, Secretary of State for the Colonies.- "Hongkong community presented its respectful duty to Her Majesty the Queen. I have this afternoon unveiled Jubilee Statue to Her Majesty erected on recently completed portion of reclamation. Immense concourse of people; upwards of two thousand Naval, Military and Volunteers.