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19.
KING GEORGE CORONATION (contd.)
Sir Henry May, a royal salute being at the same time fired from the warships in the harbour. This concluded the ceremony, during which all tram and other vehicular traffic was suspended.
A special meeting had been held the same afternoon of the Executive and Legislative Councils, Sir Henry May presiding. He said:
"I have the honour to submit the following resolution to this honourable Council: That the Members of this Council have heard with profound sorrow the announcement of the death of his late Majesty, King Edward VII, and desire to tender their humble duty and to express their most heartfelt, loyal and respectful sympathy with Her Majesty Queen Alexandra, their Majesties the King and Queen and the Royal family in their bereavement."
The resolution was adopted, and sent Home.
*******
Arrangements for the celebration of the Coronation, the following year, were put in hand early on, and an elaborate programme was drawn up. The celebrations took place in June 1911, and I append, in brief, the events which were approved by the Hongkong Coronation Committee for the first night, on June 22 of that year.
H.E. the Governor held a public reception at Government House, the guests attending the reception passing into the gardens, which were connected with the Public (Botanic) Gardens, the whole being beautifully illuminated with Japanese lanterns. Refreshments were served, and a military band played selections, in the Public Gardens.
The Japanese community gave a display of fireworks, and a Chinese fish-lantern procession passed along Upper Albert Road, and round and into the garden of Government House. There were three fine set-pieces of Chinese fireworks at 10 p.m.
The men-of-war in harbour were illuminated from 9 to 11 p.m., and merchant vessels co-operated in this. It was altogether a memorable display.
**
In the previous article a summary was given of the Colony's first day's celebrations, on June 22, 1911, in connection with the Coronation of H.M. the King. The subject is of special interest at this time, because of the approach of King George's jubilee in May next, when he will have reigned for twenty-five years. Hongkong will no doubt mark the occasion in fitting manner and one can expect some at least of the Coronation celebrations to be repeated.
Vying with the programme of the first day, the celebration on June 23, 1911, was on an even grander scale. I shall summarise those activities here, and give more extended reference to certain features of the occasion in a subsequent article.
**
The weather on both days proved ideal, and huge crowds thronged the city and witnessed the illuminations, fireworks, processions, and other activities.
For June 23, every householder and "hong" and occupier of buildings in the City as well as on the Peak, and also on the Kowloon side, had been asked to display at least one Chinese or Japanese lantern of a red colour in every window or porch or balcony visible from the harbour, from 9.30 to 11.30 p.m., and the response was a splendid one. It was particularly requested that any person desiring to add to the illumination of his building should conform to the general red colour scheme. The lanterns were in position by the morning of the first day, and so added considerably to the effect of the daylight decorations.
The Public Works Department lined the lamps on the upper roadways with red paper, as was done on the occasion of the visit of H.R.H. Prince Arthur of Connaught, and red flares were lighted on the Praya wall from Blake Pier to Murray Pier.
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