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EDWARD KING (CONTINUATION)
To-day's article has to do with the splendid illuminations which evoked such admiring comment before the heavy rain storm spoilt the effect.
The Spanish Mission House, two adjoining houses, the French Mission, the residence of the German Consul "The Castle", Sir Paul Chater's residence and several other private residences, on the upper levels were illuminated by Japanese lanterns.
The Hongkong Hotel was lavishly illuminated with coloured lanterns and made an attractive spectacle from the harbour.
Messrs. Graca and Co., postage stamp dealers (now situated in Wyndham Street) and R.P.D.S. de Silva, a jeweller, artistically decorated their stores with large arches of evergreens.
The premises in Queen's Road Central occupied by Messrs. Meyerink and Co., E.D. Sassoon and Co., and the Deutsche Asiatische Bank were illuminated on all three floors with lanterns, the six arches on each floor being decked with numerous lights, disposed in fanciful designs.
The offices of Messrs. Deacon and Hastings at 10 Queen's Road, had the whole frontage decorated with rows and arches of coloured Japanese lanterns, which gave a very pretty effect.
The Italian Consulate in Queen's Road, was decorated with globular red, white and green Chinese lanterns, the national colours.
Messrs. H. Prince and Co., combined with Messrs. Johnson Stokes and Master in decoration of their Queen's Road frontage, which was picked out with Chinese lanterns, the centrepiece being an illuminated Crown flanked by the letters "E" and "A".
St. Joseph's College made a pretty picture in its festival attire. The middle of the building was surmounted by a large luminous cross. On the East corner appeared the initial "E" and on the west the initial "A". Upon the facade of the College facing the harbour, was the legend, in great characters, "God Save the King." The plan was much the same as that adopted in the 1897 decorations.
Capt. Millroy had the Sailors' Home decorated with an anchor ten feet long, having the letters "E" and "R" on the right and left respectively.
The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank was outlined on three sides with red and white lanterns, so that the effect produced was a complete sketch of the building in red and white.
The P. & O. Building looked well with the Company's flag in coloured lanterns in front of the offices and an illuminated "P. and O. Company" over the top.
Messrs. Lane Crawford's premises in Queen's Road were most effectively decorated and Messrs. Jardine Matheson's extensive Hong was outlined with red and white Japanese lanterns with the house flag over the porch on the first floor.
The building in Des Voeux Road occupied by Messrs. David Sassoon and Co., Palmer and Turner, Linstead and Davis and E. Niedhardt (the Medical Hall) was a blaze of colour.