AND
November 21, 1903.]
CHINESE PRESENTATION TO H.E. THE GOVERNOR.
AN EMBROIDERED CANOPY.
of
The Kaifong-street committee of Second and Third Streets (Western District Hongkong City) at noon on Saturday presented Sir Henry Blake with an embroidered canopy of unique Chinese design and workmanship. It was intended as a parting mark of esteem by that section of the native community with whom Sir Henry co-operated in carrying ont certain experiments for the successful treatment of Chinese plague patients.
We
The experiments-the results of which published some time ago-were conducted in two blocks located at one of the worst plague districts in the Colony, wis: No. 9 District.
Shortly before noon the bang of Chinese cymbals and other similar
less
more
or
musical instruments were heard in the vicinity of, and gradually approaching, Government House. Sharp at the hour a procession entered at the main porchway.
It was typically Chinese. First came two boys carrying paper lanterns upon which were inscribed characters for "With greatest respect we appreciate your benevolence"; next came two pairs of boys carrying fags; then two pairs of glass lamps; two boys with peculiar head-dress three banners in succes-ion; a band; three ornamental trays in succession; a
64 band
another banner; the canop; and fiually repre- sentatives of the kaifong in chairs.
When the kaifong representatives had alighted, the company repaired to the ball-room where Sir Henry and Lady Blake received them. The canopy was placed in the centre of the room.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
you
377
CHINESE PRESENTATION TO LADY BLAKE.
TWO SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HONGKONG. A presentation of a number of Chinese curios was made to Lady Blake at Government House
blue and white china Kang Hi dynasty vases, on Thursday. They comprised three bronzes (one incense-burner and two vases) 300 years old, two
of Kin Leung dynasty vases, two pieces of one vase of the Yung Ching dynasty, one pair old embroidery (one a screen and the other s cover), and two carved ivories, one of which is of to HE. and Lady Blake there were present 18 stages (one ball inside another. In addition Sir John Keane, Mr. R. F. Johnston, Acting Clerk of Councils, Mr. Ramjsha, the Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Hon. Wei Yak, Mora Fung Wa Chau. Lan Chu Pak, Ho Fook, Chan Bin Ke,
Yung Pin Shao, Lai Shan Hai, U Hai Chow, Wei Os, Un Lai Chuen, Tang Lau Kop, Ta ig Lan Chuen, Wong Kum Fuk. Chow Hing Ki, Li Pk, Chow Foon Ng, and Chan Chok Ping.
The deputation was received in the ball room, Lady Blake with a bouquet. when first of all Master Wei Yuk presented
Hon. Dr. Ho and said :-00 Chinese
friends and
Kai then stepped forward
behalf of
your many Colony I have
admirers ia this the distinguished honoar to-day to present a few articles for your racions acceptance. The articles in themselves presented to you by your Chinese friends more are not of very great value, but they are as a token of their esteem and of their regard and affection, your Ladyship. On the eve of have felt that very shortly they are about to your departure for Ceylon your Chicose friends lose the society
charming lady, but a sympathetic and kind not only of a great and
personal friend.
(Applause). They have hands. received many acts of kinduess from your They have received your profuse hospitality at Government House, and you have always taken a very lively and kindly interest
in
from time to time addresses and presentations, Į but never one that I have received with greater pleasure than this beautiful umbrella which will be a memento of the work that you and I undertook and carried out during last summer -work, the effect of which may be more far- reaching than is considered probable at pre- sent; for it has shown that it is possible to secure the co-operation of the people in public works in private business, and such co- operation smooths away difficulties aud carries out with pleasant ease precautions thit, under other circumstances, are only irritating. I have already spoken to you and thanked for your assistance, and I take this opportunity of saying how much the district is indebted to the good work done by Dr. Yeung Chuk Hing, of the Tung Wa Hospital, who visited the experimental block twice, and some times three times, each day and gave medical attend- I am glad to hear that your influence has spread auce, where necessary, without fee or reward. to the neighbouring districts, and that at present High Street and other parts of No. 9 District are working in co-op ration with the Sanitary Board. Dr. Pearce informs me that the cleansing operations in No. 9 District are proceeding with three times the rapidity that they are in any other district in the city. This is very satisfactory, and I hope that the system which you have inaugurated will ultimately extend or, in a short time extend, to the whole city, and that I shall hear, when far away from Hongkong, that the Sao tary Board has ceased to be looked upon by the people with fear and trembling, aud that the medical officers of health are received, as you receive them, as friends, and that the duties of the sanitary inspectors will Those present were Sir John Keane, A.D.C.,
be rendered light by the personal supervision of Hon. W. Chatham, Hon. Dr. Atkinson, Dr. the kaifongs of the district. When that time Pearce, Col. Webb, B.A.M.C., Hon. A. W. comes, I hope and I think that the Brewin, Registrar-General, Inspector Gidley, health of the city will be greatly improved. Messrs. Fung Wa Chun, Lau Chu Pak. Liu and you will be proud that you were the Yi, Lan Chiu, Cheng Tai, Mak Hi, Trang
first to assist in the inauguration of a Sang, Mak Chak, Kwok Nam, Cheong Chi, system, the result of which may be the cleans Chan Chan, Tam Chun, Man Ling, Fang Keo, ing of the city from this terrible plague with Yuan Shan, Wan Food, Mang Yat. Chan Ki, which we have been scourged for the past ten dually, and as a community and a nation. them and their affairs both indivi- Mak Sui, Chak Cheung, Man Chai, Fung Ken years. I thank you most heartily for this beau- They feel that in you they have a sympathi- and Wong Wai, and the members of the kaifong that you, who have presentel it to me, have their families have also received much kindness tiful presentation, and I shall ever remember Mr. Lin Yi, on behalf of the kaifong,
ser, a friend.and a guide, and the Chinese and read the following address:-Your Excellency shown me how easy it is to induce the Chinese at your hands. The articles are the products
-The members of the Committee represent people to assist in the operations that are ing the kaifong of Second
of the art, industry, and manufactures of China. for their benefit when these They will serve to remind you when you are Third undertaken Streets are met here to-day to crave your operations are explained to them in the begin- far away from us in Ceylon, or at your home in Excellency's pleisure to accept a memento of ning. I hope you will convey to the inhabit-Ireland, that you have many affectionate friends the work which your Excellency, at great per-
ants of the experimental block, with which among the Chinese in the far eastern Colony of sonal inconvenience, conducted in the interest
I was
so closely connected, my high ap: Hongkong, and they further will remind you and for the protection of the lives of the preciation of the manner in which they met of your five years' residence in this Colony inhabitants of No. 9 District in this Colony.
me on that occasion, and the manner in which amongst us. (Applause). I need not recount the At the commencement of the annual visitation they carried out the instructions given them of plague this year, your Excellency inaugurat. by me.
many kindnesses that you have shown your Chi- I earnestly pray for the health and
nese friends here, but suffice it to say your kind- ed the experiments in the treatment of Chinese happiness of you and them, and your freedom patients. Those experiments resulted in im.
from the dangers that, in the future, may sympathetic interest you have taken in them, ness, courtesy, and your consideration, and the mense benefit to the people in that I cality.pos ibly threaten this city.
in their families, and in their social affairs, The sympathy for the saffering of the poorer
have so endeared you to them that they shall citizens of this Colony, 80 generously
ever cherish the memory of you all through manifested by your Excellency, deeply touched
The canopy is a beautifully embroidered piece their life (applause. They hope that when them, and moved us, as the representativos of of Chinese workmanship. The background is the district which came under your special and crimson silk, and a variety of emblems such as
you are away from tem that you may be benign care, to an expression of our gratitude mythical dragons, a phoenix, and women on horse- you and your noble husband, H.E. the Gover- reminded of them, and they also desire to wish to you. It was the unprompted desire of every
back are worked upon it in gold and cloured one of us that a souvenir should be subscribed thread. Chinese characters, meaning " In you Your Chinese friends, therefore, bag that nor, a very prosperous and happy future life. for and presented to your Excellency now that goodness of heart you protect the people your Ladyship will accept these you are so shortly to leave Hongkong at the are prominent on it; and on two long ribbons conclusion of your period of administration here
(Applause). are inscribed the names of the committee ni This souvenir takes the form of a canopy of no
red letters.
Lady BLAKE in response said-There is an On a silver plato sewn 00 old saying that intrinsic value, but testifies none the less to the
out of the abundance of the the ribbon is the following inscription heart the mouth speaketh," but I am sorry to sincere appreciation and thankfulness of those
"To His Excellency, Sir Henry A. Blake, say that I cannot agree with that sa ing this who feel, so sensibly, your Excellency's solicita G.C.M.G, Governor of Hongkong, Com-morning, for much as I feel I have no words to tion for the assuagement of their troubles when mander-in-Chief and Vice-Admiral of Same. express my gratitude for your kindness and my beset by the calamitons ills such as befall us
Chan Ki, Kwok Nam, Chak Cheung, Fung Kun, admiration for your gifts. To me it is not only with each direful visitation of the dreaded
Mak Sui, Shai Ki, Mak Hi, Tsang Sang, Mak
a pleasure but a pr vilege to have made so many scourge. We beg you, Sir, to accept the Chak. Cheong Chi, Lau Chiu, Wan Fun. memento with our reiterated thanks
friends amongst the Chinese, and as I believe With
Lin Yi, Idang Yat, Wang Wai, Chan Chun, that when one is far away one can still be with this expression we couple the prayer that both
Tam Chur, Fug Ken, Man Ling, Man Chai
those one cares for in spirit, my spirit will you and Lady Blake may have long years before Cheng Tai, Second and Third Street Kaifong.
always be with you. In years to come I look you to enjoy to the full the blessings of health and prosperity and the reward of His Majesty
forward to see many of you in our home in for the unqualified success of your administra-
these presents, and I can assure you that Ireland. I thank you with all my heart for tion in Hongkong. Like the Chinese in this
none of them were needed to assure me of Colony, the natives in the new sphere of you sympathetic government will not take long to
your regard and sincerity (applause). realise what a loss we suffer by the inestimable
and
gain they attain in your elevation to a higher post in the service of the King in Ceylon.
His Excellency replied:-Mr. Lin Yi and members of the Committee of the kaifong of Second and Third Streets. I have received
The company then proceeded into the dining room, where various toasts were drunk
+
to
Mr. Kato, Japanese Consul at Chemulpo, reports that about twenty or thirty Russian sailors of the Bobre quarrelled with a number of Japanese subjects on the wharf on the after noon of the let inst. A fight occurred in which three Japanese were badly injured. Seven others also sustained slighter injuries. Some of the crew of the Japanese cruiser Chiyoda were also injured in the conflict. mixed in the affray.
up
Several Russians were
articles.
Dr. Ho KAI then addressed Sir Henry Blake as follows:-May I now take this opportunity..
your Excellency, to address to you a few words?
At the request of the leading men of the Chinese community, I have to ask your kind approval of the foundation of two scholarships to be named after your Excellenoy: the one is