ever that Peel Street commemorates this former Prime Minister.
The naming of Old Bailey and Chancery Lane are self-explanatory: in the vicinity are the Gaol, almost on the exact site of the earliest prison erected in Hongkong, and the Police Courts, near the site of a very early courthouse. In the days when it was more usual to have some reminder of the homeland, what more natural than to transplant such names from London to Hongkong?
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Elgin Street, of course, is named after the Earl of Elgin who, on the outbreak of hostilities with the Chinese at Canton in 1857, was selected by Lord Palmerston to proceed in April that year to China as Britain's Special Plenipotentiary. He arrived in Hongkong on July 2, and "reluctantly condescended to receive an address from the British community," prior to departing soon afterwards for a while to Calcutta, returning in September, but evidently disappointing local residents by his seeming sympathies with the Canton Mandarin. He appears to have gone contrary to the wishes of both the population and Governor of Hongkong (Sir John Bowring) in the subsequent conduct of affairs: but that did not prevent his name adorning one of the city streets in due course.
Graham Street is another of the thoroughfares named after a former G.O.C. When Lt. Col. Hope Graham (as he then was) took over command of the local Garrison, in May 1855, he was also given a seat on the Executive Council of Hongkong. Colonel Graham belonged to the 59th Regiment.
The name Gutzlaff has already been dealt with in these notes (see 18-7-33). Dr. Charles Gutzlaff was a Pomeranian missionary who had been an interpreter on the staff of Captain Elliot, RIN (the first administrator of this Colony). When Hongkong became British this missionary came here, originally as Chinese Secretary in 1843, and not long afterwards identified himself with the promotion of infant welfare, being one of the originators of the scheme which later developed into the Foundling Hospital at Pokfulum. Gutzlaff island and lighthouse, some miles to the south-east of Shanghai, commemorate the fact that he was, immediately before his appointment to Hongkong, a magistrate in British service at Ningpo and Chusan. He had a great command of the Chinese language and a deep knowledge of the country, the people and their literature. He died in the Colony in August 1854, and Gutzlaff Street was named in his honour.
The gentleman commemorated in Cochrane Street was the Naval commander-in-chief, Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, who was a popular figure in the Colony during the Forties. It is recorded of him that he entertained a great deal, and was socially one of the best known personages of his period out here.
We come finally to Pottinger Street, and to the commemoration of another Governor of Hongkong. Sir Henry Pottinger was actually the first Governor of the Colony, the title of his predecessors being Administrator. He administered the Colony from August 1841, but governed it (such is the distinction) from June 1843, to May 1844.