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Translation of the Chinese Address presented to
His Excellency the Governor, Sir Frederick John Dealtry Lugard, K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O., by the representatives of the Chinese Community.
In a lucky day in April of the year 1910 on the occasion of your Excellency's returning to your ancestral home on a holiday of six months we Chinese representatives of all classes of the community take the opportunity of your departure to present you with a respectful address in token of our esteem.
More than once have the stars and the hoar-frosts returned in their course since Your Excellency came to Hongkong: the benevolence and clemency of your virtuous administration is in the mouth of every passer-by in the streets. Your earnest attention has been devoted to everything that would promote the welfare of the people and the comfort of those who have gathered here from afar. More especially has every movement for the benefit of the Chinese received your heartiest support. Not once have your actions failed to call forth the public praise.
Your Excellency was moved with great sorrow at the frequency with which bodies have been thrown out into the street in Hongkong, and with the determination of taking measures to stamp the practice out, you consulted the Public Dispensaries Committee as to the best means of effecting your purpose; and now there is hardly a trace left of the evil practice. The Sanitary laws are made to preserve the public health, but the Chinese have always feared their strictness. Since Your Excellency took up office a compromise has been effected in the administration of the laws while at the same time to the gratification of all classes better results have been achieved.
It is education which moulds and forms men's talents. China is now intent on reform and for this purpose education is the most urgent need. But in few of the provinces is there a University and hence the young men who have the aspirations of a scholar and seek a higher education, much against the wishes of their fathers, their brothers and their elders, have to carry their books and luggage across many an ocean in search of a teacher.