199
teenth century.
The initial intention was for the entire community to unite on a proposal for the celebration, but it ended with the Chinese going their way and the foreigners another way.
The Chinese were able to agree about the manner in which they wished to permanently mark the event. The expatriates were torn by different factions each promoting its own project.
The manner in which the jubilee plans were handled illustrate the difficulty of uniting a community rigidly adhering to social and racial distinctions.
In the British Parliament the question was raised as to whether the Government was going to initiate plans for the celebration by the nation. The Government spokesman replied that “all celebrations of this kind will probably possess greater value so far as they arise from the spontaneous action of the public.” The local Government shared this view.
Eventually, after the Jubilee Year had opened, an informal meeting was held by a group of citizens and an unofficial committee was organised to discuss plans.
One of the committee, Mr. Paul Chater, who was also an unofficial member of the Legislative Council, announced that at the next meeting of the council on February 11, 1887, he would put to the Government the question: "Whether it is the intention of the Government to co-operate with the public in celebrating Her Majesty's Jubilee Year in a manner befitting the occasion.”
There was criticism that the unofficial committee had heretofore acted in a semi-private manner and had not taken the public into its confidence. There was general approval, however, of Mr. Chater's move, for, as an editor commented, "his question will effectively set the ball a-rolling, and public action will no doubt follow."