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·SIR WILLIAM ROBINSON'S DEPARTURE.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
To-day the colony will say farewell to Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, who will carry with him the best wishes of all sections of the com- munity. His Excellency has presided over the administration uninterruptedly longer than any previous Governor and has done so with such tact that although at various times political feeling has run high he has never suffered in personal popularity, but, on the contrary, the esteem and regard in which he is held, mainly on account of his social qualities, have steadily increased during the whole period of his residence. His unaffected geniality, the keen interest he has taken in the sports and pastimes of the community, his contributions to the intellectual life of the colony in the shape of
but then again difficulties arose as to the constitution of the committee, and it was not until a
further reference to the Secretary of State that the committee was finally ap- pointed. In 1893 a sterling loan was raised, which involved the colony in a heavy loss by reason of the fall in exchange. In the same year the defalcations in the Treasury were brought to light, and the last year of His Excellency's administration has scen the disclosure of a system of bribery in the Police Force and other departments of the Government which, shook public confidence in the Service.
In 1894 the colony was afflicted with a
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visitation of the plague, which was followed by the memorable Sanitary Board contro- versy. Although the colony had been al- lowed to fall into such a lamentably insani- tary condition during the long period of lectures and addresses and the ready patron-exclusively official control and the Sanitary age he has afforded to all musical efforts, his Board, still in its infancy, bid fair to encouragement of all benevolent movements, effect a reformation, the officials said in and the freedom of his social intercourse Tect "Sweep away the Sanitary Board, have all contributed to endear him to the community and to enhance the public your Excellency, and leave everything to
us," and His Excellency said "I agree, respect for his high office, even at times when words to that effect. The public, however, his official ncts have not met with general did not agree, and the result was that the approval. Politically it must be confessed Secretary of State directed that the matter that Sir WILLIAM has been less successful
was to be left over until the arrival of Sir than socially. It is true that he arrived at
WILLIAM ROBINSON's successor. If His a time of commercial depression and leaves Excellency made a serious mistake in regard us in the enjoyment of prosperity, but in
to the Sanitary Board, however, too much matters of that kind the influence of a Governor, although not unimportant, is not praise cannot be accorded to him for the firmness he displayed in connection with predominant. It would probably not have the coolie strike which occurred in 1895. been disagreeable to Sir WILLIAM himself This was not a strike arising out of any dispute between capital and labour, but was in the nature of a rebellion against
if he could have relieved himself of his political functions altogether and have con-
·
[February 2, 1898.
Shanghai, who is supposed to have received also the appointment of Commercial Attaché, made the same election on returning from leave the other day. We presume that Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON and Mr. JAMIESON, like the majority of Britishers, are free traders, and in the matter of travel as well as in the purchase of commodities think they are entitled to buy and pay for what suits them best. Whether in such matters British officials are called upon to consider national sentiment, as we believe the officials. of other Powers have to do, is a question that under our more liberal system must be left totheir own decision, though it is understood that in the case of Governors a very liberal allowance for travelling expenses is made, which of course comes out of the pockets of the British taxpayer. Whatever view may be entertained on this point, however, we are sure the community will heartily join in wishing Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON many years of robust health in which to enjoy his retirement.
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THE CURRENCY QUESTION.
In the recent currency debate in the Sin- gapore Chamber of Commerce no motion was brought forward for the retention of the silver standard pure and simple; the the Government should be asked to take division was upon the question of whether
basis of 2s. to the dollar, or whether the steps to secure fixity of exchange on the Government should simply be asked to institute an enquiry as to the desirability and feasibility of securing fixity of exchange and to secure expert assistance in the en-
fined himself to the social `side of his office. the Government, the coolies ceasing work quiry. Some of the gentlemen who spoke
Although not uninterested in high questions of policy affecting national interests, such as the proposed extension of the Kowloon frontier, for routine work, the drudgery from which not even, a Governor can altogether escape, he has been under- stood to entertain, a profound distaste and to have left all matters as far as pos- sible to his subordinates, contenting' him- self with minuting the representations or recommendations of heads of departments with the stereotyped formula "I agree." He
in the hope of coercing the Government to withdraw certain regulations made, after the visitation of the plague, for the preven- tion of overcrowding, His Excellency, however, declined to be coerced, and the
determined attitude he assumed
was the more commendable inasmuch as certain
favour the retention of silver, but ap- in favour of the amendment evidently
weak to carry a declaration in favour of parently they felt their side was too the white metal
and they therefore brought forward the amendment in favour, of further inquiry as a temporising delay. In the result the amendment was measure and for the purpose of securing defeated and the Chamber decided by a majority of seventeen to fourteen to recom-
mend to the Government a scheme for secur
leading members of the community evinced a disposition to give way and thereby eu- Couraged the strikers and increased the difficulties of the Government. Another matter for which His Excellency must be has certainly been no lover of political commended is the effective.manner in whiching fixity of exchange on the basis of a two- controversy, as is shown by the infrequency he dealt with the slight placed upon British shilling dollar. It may be noticed that in and brevity of the Legislative Council rule by a certain section of the Chinese the division the representatives of the meetings under his administration. Had
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corpora he relied less unreservedly on the heads of Population-a small section we believe-tion and the Chartered Bank of India, when the Mandarin pf Kowloon city was. departments and taken more trouble to study invited to come across to the colony and Australia, and China voted for the amend- ment, while the representative of the Mer- cantile Bank of India voted for the original
questions for himself some of the difficulties he has encountered might have proved in the long run less embarrassing and he might have been spared the unpleasantness-if he felt it as such-of having his decisions over ruled on appeal to the Secretary of State.
When Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON arrived the military contribution question was under
the relations agitation, and
between the Government and the unofficial members of the Legislative Council were strained also on the salaries question. The former ques- tion was subsequently settled on the basis of a fixed contribution of 17 per cent. of the colony's revenue instead of a stated sum in sterling which constituted a burden on the colony varying with the rate of exchange; but unfortunately when the settle- ment was under consideration His Excellency neglected to champion the colony's claim for a rebate in respect of municipal revenue and did not do so until after the decision had beeu arrived at and formulated. In connection with the salaries question a com- mittee to enquire into the possibility of retrenchment was asked for by the unofficial members of Council, but was at first refused. After reference to the Secre- tary of State the request was granted,
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play the leading part in the ceremony of On the other side of the account we have opening the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. the recently decided light dues question. On appeal to the Secretary of State a decision in accordance with public feel- ing on the subject, and in opposition to the view espoused by the Governor, was arrived at..
It has fallen to the lot of Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON to represent Her Majesty in Hongkong in two memorable functions, namely, the unveiling of the Queen's Statue, and subsequently the celebration of Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee. On the last named occasion His Excellency had the gratification receiving the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George, we trust he may be an honour which spared to wear for very many years.
resolution.
beating about the bush. Some time ago a In the debate there was a good deal of sub-committee of the Chamber appointed. for the purpose submitted a tentative scheme. by which it was supposed the conversion of the standard might be effected. The op- position confined themselves to a great extent to picking holes in this report
dwelling on and
the difficulties of.. conversion. The existence of difficulties must be admitted, and it may perhaps. also be admitted that the report of the sub-committee did not wholly solve them. It is patent, however, that the difficulties are capable of solution, as conver- sion schemes have been carried into effect in half-a-dozen countries within recent years, and although each special case may It is a little unfortunate that in con- present features peculiar to itself there is no nection with His Excellency's departure a doubt that what has been done elsewhere discordant note should be introduced into can be equally well done in the Straits. The the farewells, but it cannot be ignored that idea of calling in expects to decide as to the amongst the British community. some feel-desirability and feasibility of securing fixity ing of irritation has been caused by his of exchange is therefore not one to be election to travel under a foreign flag commended. If the Government decides Mr. G. JAMIESON, the Consul-General at to act upon the recommendation to