COURTS(17)
266
"Whereas by the Twenty-first section of the Supreme Court Ordinance, 1873, it is enacted as follows:-
# The Court shall hold its sitting in the present Supreme Court Building or in such other place as the Governor may from time to time appoint."
"Now therefore, I Sir Frederick John Dealtry Lugard, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies and Vice Admiral of the same, do hereby appoint that, from and after the fifteenth day of January 1912, the Supreme Court of Hongkong shall no longer hold its sittings in the Court specified in the schedule hereto, situate in the building heretofore known as the Supreme Court but shall hold its sittings in the building to be known henceforth as "The Courts of Justice."
SCHEDULE.
"1. The Court, situate in the centre of the said building on the first floor thereof to be known as "The Chief Justice's Court."
2. The Court, situate in the said building to the north of the aforesaid Court and to be known as "The Second Court."
3. The Court, situate in the said building to the south of the aforesaid Court, and to be known as "The Third Court."
"Given under my hand and the Public Seal of the Colony, at Victoria, Hongkong this 15th day of January 1912.
"By Command (Sd) C. Clementi, Colonial Secretary
His Excellency the Governor delivered the opening speech all present rising to their feet as he spoke. At the conclusion he handed the Chief Justice the ceremonial key.
The Chief Justice, in reply, said that many of them had watched the progress of the building, some for three years, others for five, and some for seven. The progress of the building had been so slow, the time of observation so long that even the least of them, with however small a knowledge of architecture had come to criticise and have a fling of sarcasm at it. From top to bottom none had been spared, but when His Excellency came on behalf of the King to declare the Courts open, they must be blind to its blemishes and thankful for its good points.
Detailing some of the good points, His Lordship spoke of the stability of the building, and he thought that the Colony might be justly proud of the famous masonry which through these years had been put together. Another point which he touched on was the size of the buildings and the courts, and he thought that the great court and even the two lesser courts were almost among the largest in the British Empire.
After thanking His Excellency for the key, and for declaring the Courts open his Lordship turned to the Attorney-General and asked:
"Mr. Attorney General, do you move?"