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FRANCIS. J. J. K. C.
In the course of recent comments on the Volunteers (see 24-10-33) mention was made of Mr. J. J. Francis who was elected a captain in the Hongkong Volunteer Artillery in 1883, and whose name is perpetuated in the trophy known as the Francis Cup. Mr. Francis was, however, a captain in the Volunteers before that period and in May, 1880 by virtue of this was appointed an extra aide-de-camp to the Governor, Sir John Hennessy.
This most interesting personality among the Colony's former residents deserves a chapter to himself in any history of Hongkong and something more about his career might be given to-day.
John Joseph Francis came to the Colony as a young man in the Sixties and entered into Articles with a local Solicitor, Mr. William Gaskell. On January 22, 1869, Mr. Francis was admitted to practise in Hongkong as an "attorney, solicitor and proctor" of the Court, by Chief Justice Smale, his admission being moved by the Attorney General, Mr. Pauncefote.
He soon made a name for himself and in 1871, was one of those appointed examiners as to the fitness of candidates for admission to practise at the Courts. A few years later he went to England to be called to the Bar and on his return was admitted to the local Bar in March 1877. He had been called at Gray's Inn in November 1876. A little more than a year after his return, in September 1878, Mr. Francis was gazetted acting Police Magistrate.
He was responsible, incidentally, for the drawing up of the rules and regulations under which the Po Leung Kuk worked for a number of years, and in other ways identified himself with local life.
In April 1880 he was appointed to act as Puisne Judge and in February 1886, was appointed a Queen's Counsel for Hongkong.
His connection with the Volunteers extended over a considerable period, and he was gazetted their acting Commandant in June 1887, but resigned later, his name being then placed on the roll of honorary members of the Corps in June 1888.
He was afterwards chairman of the Sanitary Board, and this led to an acute situation as we shall presently see.
Apparently Mr. Francis was disappointed in at least one effort to obtain recognition for in December 1886, we find it recorded that he was an unsuccessful candidate for appointment to the Legislative Council, having addressed a circular in September that year to the Justices of the Peace asking to be selected in place of the Hon. Mr. F.D. Sassoon, who had gone on leave, and setting forth his qualifications. However, when the Justices met in December they elected Mr. (afterwards Sir) Paul Chater to succeed Mr. Sassoon.
In 1887 Mr. Francis was made one of the members of the Commission appointed to revise the Laws and Ordinances of Hongkong.
Towards the close of his local career he came into conflict with individual practices and personages and an incident worth