The Rev. R. F. Corbold preached the sermon,
2064
The thanksgiving service in the Roman Catholic Cathedral commenced at 10.30 a.m. The Right Rev. Dr. Piazzoli, Titular Bishop of Clezomene and Vicar-Apostolic of Hongkong conducted the service, assisted by the Rev. Fathers Gabordi and Martinet. The Rev. Fathers Vigano and Spada were Masters of Ceremonies. Amongst those present in the specially reserved seats were the Consuls for Spain, France, Austria-Hungary and Belgium, in full diplomatic uniform. The French and Spanish vice-consuls, English, Spanish and Portuguese naval officers, detachments from the volunteers, the West Yorks, the Royal Artillery and Royal Navy, and many prominent local residents were also present.
At the Parsee place of worship in Elgin Street, members of the Zoroastrian faith in Hongkong offered thanksgiving in commemoration of the completion of the 60th year of the reign of Her Majesty. The prayer and thanksgiving was impressively pronounced by Mr. Mody.
The Jewish Synagogue was packed for the thanksgiving service. The sermon was preached by Mr. S. A. Joseph who emphasised the loyalty and obedience of the Jews to the Queen. A special prayer for the Queen and Royal Family was offered.
In the afternoon, a service in Chinese was conducted by the Rev. T. W. Pearce in St. John's Cathedral. The bodies taking part included the Church Mission, London Mission, Berlin Foundling School, Baxter Memorial School, English Wesleyan Chapel and the American Board of Missions.
As an act of grace, in honour of Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee, an amnesty was granted to 33 prisoners in Victoria Gaol. The prisoners released were all undergoing short terms of imprisonment. No one convicted of theft or robbery was included in the amnesty.
Hongkong began to celebrate the Jubilee in earnest on Tuesday, June 22. All classes and all nationalities vied with each other in doing honour to a beloved Sovereign. All the functions were largely attended and many thousands of visitors, principally Chinese from Canton, Amoy, Shanghai and Macao came to Hongkong and helped to give the place an unusually animated appearance. British and foreign warships gathered in the Harbour, and the calm of the morning was shattered as their guns roared the Royal Salute of 60 guns. All ships in port were "dressed" for the occasion,
Another article on the Diamond Jubilee will be published to-morrow.