BLAKE? SIR HENRY (1)
SIR HENRY BLAKE'S PERIOD.
DIRECTIONS to have given his successor a peculiarly difficult and thankless task. Acquainted as we are with Sir Henry in regard to native races we anticipate in his new office the achievement of the same degree of popularity which His Excellency has earned from the Chinese population in Hongkong.
Sir Henry Blake came from County Galway, Ireland. He was educated at Dr. St. John's Academy, Kilkenny and Santry College, entered the Royal Irish Constabulary in 1859, was one of the Resident Magistrates selected in 1882, to concert and carry out measures for the pacification of Ireland and had executive charge of the following counties: Kildare Co., Queens Co., Meath, Carlow, Galway East and Galway West. He was appointed Governor of Bahamas in 1884 remaining up to 1887; to 1888 in which year he was appointed Governor of Queensland but resigned his commission on return to England. He was appointed Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief of Jamaica in 1889 and served up to 1897, he presided over the Legislative Council until 1893 when Dr. Philipps was appointed in his place. He became Governor of Hongkong in 1897.
The Hongkong Telegraph of November 14, 1903 reported:-
"An interesting ceremony took place at Government House at noon to-day when the kaifongs of Second and Third Streets in the Western District of the Colony presented His Excellency the Governor with an embroidered canopy on the eve of his departure from Hongkong.
"As is well-known the question of the successful treatment of Chinese plague patients is one that has engaged Sir Henry Blake's considerable attention. Early this year His Excellency undertook to carry out certain experiments. The result of His Excellency's efforts to combat the plague in this district has already been published.
"Punctually on the stroke of twelve a characteristic Chinese procession marched through the entrance gate, headed by two boys carrying lanterns on which were characters meaning 'With the greatest respect, we appreciate your Excellency's benevolence' and after passing the main porch of Government House it halted for the representatives of the kaifongs to alight from their chairs. After the members of the Committee had been presented to the Governor, Mr. Liu Yi, said: 'Your Excellency, the members of the Committee representing the Kaifongs of Second and Third Streets are met here to-day to crave your Excellency's pleasure to accept a memento of the work which your Excellency, at great personal inconvenience, conducted in the interest and for the protection of the lives of the inhabitants of No. 9 District in this Colony. At the commencement of the annual visitation of plague this year, your Excellency inaugurated the experiments in the treatment of Chinese patients.
Page 54
Page 55
Page 56