DEACON, VICTOR.
278
"Old Mortality " " Town Dweller's" reference to the four two-storied European houses on the north side of Arbuthnot Road, (1-7-33) and particularly his reference to that which was occupied by the late Mr. Victor Deacon, the solicitor, may possibly conjure up memories in the minds of some of the Colony's old residents, since it was in this house that Mr. Deacon regularly on Saturday nights entertained a poker party which generally lasted well into the small hours. One of the most frequent of the guests who attended these parties was "Bill" Robinson - whose correct title was His Excellency, Sir William Robinson, G.C.M.G., the then Governor of Hongkong.
In the same issue, you made reference to the offices of the solicitors, Wotton & Deacon, which were close to the Old Supreme Court and which I believe had to be hurriedly vacated owing to the discovery of innumerable rats therein at the time of the plague troubles in 1894. At that time, I think Mr. Wotton had left the Colony and the firm was conducted under the style of Victor H. Deacon. The offices were removed further down Queen's Road, towards Ice House Street, but on the opposite side, and as the offices of Johnston, Stokes & Masters were located in the adjacent building - there being an alley-way between them - communication in case of need was frequently obtained by vociferous shouting from one window to the other.