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that the services rendered to the Colony during the plague epidemic were worthy of public recognition, and a large and influential committee was appointed to carry out the wishes of that meeting. The Committee, having carefully considered the great assistance which the Colony received in time of distress from the military, was desirous that each of the officers and men who had been engaged in plague work should receive some mark of the Colony's recognition and appreciation, and that a record of the same should remain in the Regiment and at the Hongkong Mess of the Royal Engineers. They therefore decided to award certain medals, and pieces of plate. The Committee very much regret that it has been impossible to get these medals struck here or to procure suitable pieces of plate, but all necessary orders have been given and we hope to be in possession of these in two or three months."
His Excellency, the Governor said: Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men, I have been asked to thank you publicly on behalf of the community for the valuable assistance which you rendered to the Colony during the plague. I do so with a great deal of pleasure. Your conduct during that trying period was charitable, courageous and even noble. It very properly elicited from the Government and people of Hongkong, a feeling of admiration and gratitude.
You may depend upon it, that the residents of Hongkong will never forget the gallant "Shropshire Boys" and their comrades in arms who came to their aid at that critical time. It is their wish that you should not forget them, and therefore they desire to acknowledge suitably the good work that was done.
I will now read to you a list of the presentation that will be made:-
To the memory of your gallant Captain Vesey, who laid down His life for others, it is intended to erect a tablet or window in St. John's Cathedral. A gold medal will also be sent to his sorrowing mother.
To your gallant Colonel - Colonel Robinson a piece of plate will also be presented to the Officers' Mess. Major McLaughlin, Captains Buchanan, Welman and Howell and Lieutenants Jordan, Strick and Luard and Second Lieutenant W.J. Robinson will receive gold medals. These officers worked from the beginning to the end of the epidemic. Major Lyle, Captain Forbes and Second Lieutenants Carrig and Wilson will also receive gold medals.
To the Sergeants' Mess of the Shropshire Regiment will be presented a silver shield, while to the various companies will be presented a Cup for competition for football. Each of the men assisted during the plague will be given a silver medal.
In addition to this, a piece of plate will be presented to that gallant young officer of the Royal Engineers, Lieutenant Boys; and a piece of plate to the Royal Engineers' Mess bearing the names of Captain Stewart and Lieutenants Boys, Molesworth and Mehall.
Continuing, His Excellency said - These articles are not yet completed, but I will cause them to be forwarded to you in a few weeks' time. They are presented to you by a grateful community. I am sure you will value them.