318
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
ADDRESS FROM CHINESE
COMMUNITY.
1903.
[April 26, 2
from the French, for its commerce from the | THE DEPARTURE OF THE HON.) and satisfactory position......... United States, for its public education from Germany and other Continental nations, and so on. The pamphleteers have seized their opportunity and flooded the country with their writings, embellished with all the sensationalism which they can command and backed by arrays of statistics which would not disgrace a Blue-book. But by their extravagances they have overshot the mark, and the effect which was beginning to be produced has been weakened thereby. To take but one example: when we are told that owing to the unprogressiveness of British manufacturers the American locomotive is entirely driving out the British, and when we subsequently learn from a number of diverse sources that this is by no means the case, the Americans being cheaper only at the expense of inferiority of lasting power, we not unnaturally feel suspicion about similar statements with regard to other trades. To say this is not to deny the main argument of the would-be innova- tors, merely to deplore their lack of judg. ment, which detracts from the value of their work as well as (when once discovered) from its persuasive power. The lesson which it is desired to inculca is a necessary one, that as a nation we have been too unwilling to borrow. If we listened to our less con- tinent advisers, we should now start imita- ting on all sides.
strong
ILS
At eleven o'clock on Saturday last a great number of Chinese merchants and others assembled in the City Hall to bid farewell to Mr. Lockhart, and present him with an address. The Hon. Wei A. Yak presided, and was sup- ported by the Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Mr. Fung Wa Chan, Mr. Lau Chupak. Mr. Ho Tang, and others. Mr. Lockbart was accompanied by Mrs. Lookhart, Miss Hancock, and Mrs. Saunders.
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The noteworthy
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART. improvements in the Tang Wa Hospital, which have been effected without in any way interfer- Following the presentation of the address bying with the management by the Chinese, are the Chinese College of Medicine in the Legis largely due to you, and all the free hospitals lative Council Chamber on the 18th inst
that have been established principally for the the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart was on the treatment of sick Chinese, such as the Alice 19th inst. made the recipient of addresses Memorial and Nethersole Hospitals, have had from the Chinese community and the Civil your unremitting and energetic support. You bave taken a large share in the suppression of Service and in the evening entertained at a banquet given in the City Hall by the Chinese the Triad and kindred secret societies. You have quietly but effectively and without community.
bloodshed settled many a strike and qu lled many a riot caused by the coolie and labouring classes. During the last seven years you have held the office of Colonial Secretary and that of Registrar-General combined, and althongh your official duties were thus multiplied to an onerous degree, you have never neglected the welfare of the Chinese. On the contrary, you have proved to them that however much you may have been occupied with o her duties, you bave always had a "spare moment to devote to their interests. Finally, as Commissioner of Dr. Ho KAI said-Mr. Lockhart, on behalf the New Territory you have been successful in of the Chinese community of Hongkong, I have establishing order and in bringing to its large the honour to present you with an address which native population peace and good government. (Applause.) The Chinese community appreste I will ask you to be kind enough to accept as a small token of their respect, esteem and affection. fully your kindness to them, and they are most thankful for your solicitude for their welfare. When the news of your high appointment to Weihaiwoi first reached this Colony, none The presentation of this address is a humble rejoiced more than your Chinese friends, but and grateful acknowledgement of the many very soon, however, a feeling of impending benefits which, in serving your Government loss caused a great shadow to fall over faithfully and well, you have been enabled to bestow upon them. In presenting this address, their gladness as they began to realise that ere long they would be forced to part with one sir, I cannot help referring to your helpmate,
Mrs. Lockhart, accustomed
Most of as here have received whom But there is not the
an official they are
from her hands, and we are to treat with respect, and as a friend to regard favours slightest likelihood of this. Conservative
for her courteous
TLS. gentle kindness to as were the Japanese before their wonder- with affection. The severance of your long very grateful to her
Our regret connection with Hongkong by your imminent ful transformation, the British nation is in departure therefrom has caused among the in parting from her is indeed very great, many ways even more conservative. A great Chinese a general feeling of regret, and it is only and her loss will be felt, we venture to think, impulse toward change and reformnation
to a certain extent lessened by the knowledge not only by the Chinese, but by all sections of this community. We can only hope that in has been given, in military, commercial, and that you will not be so far away after all, and that
Weihaiwai Mrs. Lockhart will be able to find other matters; there is no probability of the you will be chiefly engaged in governing and change being too rapid, the reformation too promoting the welfare of their countrymen in the a new h me and that she will be established in all precipitate. The prejudice against imutation northern colony. They were also sustained by health and strength to give you support in the the hope that some day not very distant, His enterprise and undertaking which you have of things foreign still remains strong, Majesty the King may be pleased to send you been appointed by His Majesty to carry out though fortunately not. as
back to Hongkong to occupy the most exalted in the new colony. (Applause) With these ever. It is in itself a mistake and a position in the government of this Colony few remarks, sir, I will crave your leave to hindrance to progress, but it avoids other (Applauso.) Now, sir, we have to bid you fare-read the address. mistakes which might be still more serious. well, and in so doing we cannot help recalling The faculty for assimilation of other people's the past twenty years in which you have been ways, which the Japanese havo hown to so serving the Colony so well and so remarkable an extent, is not possessed by fully. In 1882, I think it was. sir, you re- turned from Canton sud found Hongkong most other uations, certainly not by the British, and only success can make such in a very depressed condition owing to the eol- lapse of the great land speculation that occur- extensive imitation admirable. The ten-
red during the previous year, and you found dency now in Japan, according to the acutest also an embittered feeling between two important observers, is to continue the modification of sections of the community. Young as you were the innovations introduced at the end of the | then, and although holding a minor position in the Government, you at once began to interest last century on Japanese lines. Only in this way can they become permanent parts yourself earnestly in the welfare of the Colony and endeavoured to promote a better understand- of Japanese life and methods. Similarlying between the Europeans and Chinese. those who resist the too sudden adoption For a very few years only did you hold the office
· into Britain of American and German ways
of Assistant Colonial Secretary, as your dis. of business, etc., have more wisdom than tinguished ability and profound knowledge of the pauie-stricken pamphlet-writers who Chinese secured you a speedy promotion to the distort facts so much as to vitiate a case important post of Registrar-General, where you which in the main is a good one.
came into close and frequent contact with the Chinese community. It was in this office that the Chinese came directly under your inspiring influence, and it was in the discharge of your duties as Registrar-General and protector of Chi- nes that they received to much benefit from your bans The period of your tenure of this office was marked by great progress among the Chinese and by the adoption of more effective measures for the preservation of order and peace among them. Our leading Chinese citizens, who had hitherto been more or less apathetic to public affairs, came forward in comparatively large numers and took a kesuer and more active interest in matters affecting the public weal. They accorded the Government heartier co- operation and support. They gave largely to the various local charitable institutions and took a more retive part in their management. was you, sir, who re rganised the It present District Watobmen force and obtained the appointment of twelve representative | Chinese gentlemen as a supervising committee and as an advisory board to the Government. It was you, sir, who remodelled the Po Leung Kuk, and placed it in its present permanent
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A Chinese Imperial decree has been issued commanding the keeper of the Privy Purse to give one-ounce silver ingots to each of the sedan-chair bearers of the Empress Dowager and also the members of the Imperial Body- gard who are accompanying the Court to the Eastern mausolea,
The following appointments have been made at the Admiralty:-Commander T. O. Smyth to the Amphitrite, to date March 31; Assistant Engineer J. 8. Massey to the Alacrity, to date March 14; Probationary Assistant Engineer G. W. Bodel to the Endymion, to date March 14; Sub-Lieutenant H. P. Stokes to the Glory for the Whiting to date March 12; Chaplin and Naval Instructor the Rev. S. L. Clarke, M.A.,to the Amphitrite, tɔdate March 21; Liento
T. D. Pratt to the Britomart, in command, to data, March 12; Sub-Lieutenants II. L. Street to the Battler, to date April 1; R. C. Davenport, tp the Amphitrite, to date March 26.
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The address was then read in English by Dr. Ho Kai and afterwards in Chinese by Mr. Lau Chupak, being finally handed by the Chairman to Mr. Lockhart, who bowed ackıow- ledgement. It red as follows:-
To the Honourable J. H. STEWART LOOKHART, C.M.G.
Hongkong, 19th April, 1902. SIR,-On behalf of the Chinese community of Hongkong we beg to wish you a hearty and earnest farewell on your leaving the Colony, and to offer you our sincerest con- on your appointment to be Commissioner of Weihaiwei. gratulations
First Civil It was with mingled feelings of pleasure and regret that we first received the news-pleasure at learning that one so well known to us had re. ceived the promotion that his services have merited, and regret at the thought that the time was quickly approaching when the bonds which during the last 20 years have drawn us so close- ly together must at last be severed. Your pro- motion testifies to the appreciation in which His Majesty's Government holds your services. We on our side, can speak of the cordial relations which have existed between you and His
Majesty's Chinese subjects ever since you re- turned from Canton in 1882 on the completion of your Chinese studies. And it has been A source of Batisfaction to us and has no doubt helped you greatly to understand the motives that influence our conduct, the feelings by which we are stirred, and the ideals which we put before us, that not content with the knowledge of Chinese which the Government so wisely Tequires from its officers you have continued to give a large share of your leisure time to the study of our literature. It would be improper for us to speak of your services to the Chinese community, and it would be incorrect to do s0, but we are pleased to be able t, recall that in serving faithfully your Queen, your King and your country, you have been able to bestow many benefits on the Chinese. The Po Leung Kuk, which owes its present assured position in great measure to your energy and powers of