MOUNTAIN LODGE. (Contd.)
the last ceremonial guard of honour provided by the men, for their disbandment took place only a month later.
We have seen in an earlier article (5-3-35) that the Governor's Peak residence was completed late in 1902, and Sir Henry Blake was the first to occupy the place. As stated, rented premises had been in use for some years. On looking up old records we find that ten years before the Peak residence was built, there had been discussion of the subject: the full cost was voted in 1893, but final sanction was not obtained until the end of 1898. References were made in Council, which contain several passages of historical interest.
For instance, it is disclosed that an earlier private residence of the same name "Mountain Lodge" existed on the site, and this was acquired, the area was enlarged, and the premises rebuilt, by sanction of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The first vote in the Legislative Council was made in 1890, of $40,000 and this was re-voted annually while awaiting the Home sanction.
In 1893 it was raised to $60,000. At a meeting of the Council in July that year, the Hon. Mr. E. R. Belilios said:
"I have much pleasure, your Excellency, in proposing the following resolution:- "That the Secretary of State be requested by telegraph to come to an early decision on the question of an expenditure of $60,000 for the erection of a residence at the Peak for His Excellency the Governor." With your permission, sir, I wish to make a few remarks on the motion, though as the Council has already on a former occasion affirmed the necessity for a suitable residence for the Governor at the Peak by voting the sum of $40,000 for the purpose, it is unnecessary for me now to go into the question at much length. Nevertheless, as there seems to be some division of opinion as to the desirability of sanctioning the proposed outlay at the present moment, I think it proper to give my reasons for the course I have adopted. Hong Kong is not singular in providing hill quarters for its Governor: India maintains handsome mountain residences for the Governor, the Netherlands Indies also provide a sanitarium on the Java Mountains for the Governors of that great colony, and in several other colonies summer seats are maintained for the use of the Governor. In Hong Kong it is a matter of both prudence and policy to do so not only in the interests of the Governor's health, but also because he is therefore less likely to take frequent leaves of absence to spend in England or Japan. Only those, however, who have lived at the Peak for an entire summer can fully appreciate the importance of a Peak residence for the Governor, for they alone can tell the difference it makes in rendering the tropical heats endurable and even pleasant by ensuring cool and refreshing slumber every night. Having conceded this, the next point is whether it is desirable that the Governor should continue to occupy a rented house which is inadequate for his wants, unsuited for purposes of entertaining, and which is generally speaking inferior to several private residences. I maintain that the Queen's representative should be suitably housed in a manner consonant with his dignity and in a space sufficiently large to admit of his holding social functions on a proper scale.
"The question of renting or buying one of the existing houses at the Peak for a Governor's residence was, I know, gone into very carefully by Sir William Des Voeux and after...