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COURTS(17) Continuation.
The Hon. Mr. Rees-Davies:-
My Lord, I move that the minutes of this day's proceeding be entered in the minutes of the Court.
His Lordship: Let it be 90.
His Excellency then departed, and their Lordships sitting in appellate jurisdiction, heard the appeal in the case of Lai Chi-chin v Tang Wong-shi.
And thus came about the formal opening of the new Court House. It should be noted that only two of the Courts are now in use, the third being occupied by the Official Receiver's offices.
In the list of names of those present, or otherwise connected with the opening ceremony, are quite a number which recall personalities still in the Colony or closely associated with Hongkong up to a recent period.
Mr. Rees Davies afterwards became Sir William Rees Davies, Chief Justice of the Colony. He passed away not long ago.
Mr. Pollock, now Sir Henry Pollock is still a resident.
Dr. Ho Kai, since deceased, became Sir Kai Ho Kai,
Mr. Marcus Slade was a well-known Barrister here.
Mr. H. L. Dennys was one of the principals of the legal firm Dennys and Bowley.
Mr. Eldon Potter and Mr. C. G. Alabaster are still in the Colony.
Mr. Scott Harston, another present resident of Hongkong, was then in the firm of Ewens and Harson.
Mr. Beavis was in the firm of Wilkinson and Grist.
Head of that firm was Mr. C. D. Wilkinson, who is also mentioned being present at the ceremony.
Mr. H. Kemp later became Sir Joseph Kemp, who only recently retired from the position of Chief Justice of the Colony.
Mr. P. M. Hodgson is still in Hongkong.
Mr. Fletcher is now Sir Murchison Fletcher, Governor of Fiji.
The Mr. Woodcock mentioned in the report was Acting Asst. Land Officer.
The later Mr. M. J. D. Stephens is still remembered in the Colony, where he became a big property owner.
Messrs. E. R. Hallifax and J. R. Wood both rose to high positions in the Government service here, and have only recently retired.
Mr. Clementi, then Colonial Secretary, became Sir Cecil Clementi until a few years ago the Governor of Hongkong.