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Kt., c.H.G. (Chairman), The Hon. Mr. W. J. Gresson, The Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock, K.C., The Hon. MrE. A. Hewett, The Hon. Mr. Wei Yak, The Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, M.B., C.M., C.M.G., The Hon. Mr. E. Osborne, The Hon. Captain F. J. Badeley, The Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, Lieut. C. Wm. Beckwith, E.N., Messrs. J. R. M. Smith, D. R. Law, A. J. Raymond, G. H. Medhurst, D. M. Nissim, G. Balloch, H. E. Tomkins, A. G. Wood, T. B. Cochrane, H. N. Mody, H. W. Looker, T. F. Hough (Hoo. Secretary), Henry Humphreys, R. Shewan, Fung Wa Chun, Lau Chu Pak, Ho Kom Tong, Sé Po Sum, Ho Fook, U Hoi Chau and Pan Yan Chune, Besides the Hon. Mr. F.H. May, there were also present Mr. A. G. Wise (Paisne Judge). Mr. H. H. G. Gomperiz (Attorney-General), H.E.· Wa Ting Fang, Lady Piggott, Mrs. May. Bishop Pozzoni, Mr. A. G. Romano (Portuguese Consul General), Rev. G. Searle, Fr. Jordan, the Hon. Mr. L. A. M. Johnston, Hon. Dr. and Mrs. Atkinson, Dr. and Mrs. Thomson, Dr. Bateson Wright, Lieut. Fraser, Mr. and Mrs. Moxon, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon, Mrs. Shewan, Messrs. A. G. Morris, A. J. Raymond, A. H. Renuie, J. A. Jupp. H. P. Tooker, A. G. M. Fletcher, W. J. Tutcher,
ato.
THE LANDING,
Punctual to the stroke of ten the guns of all the men-of-war in the harbour belched forth the royal salute, the report of the guns rever- berating on both shores with a telling effect. This was the signal that the Royal party had boarded the Victoria and were now processing shorewards The launch which had become the cynosure of all eyes was seen leaving the big ship, the large Union Jack at her stern almost trailing in the water. The gaze of all rested on the Victoria as she made her way past the line of beflagged launches, and in a minute or two she | was alongside the pier. The Balachi Band played the National Anthem as the Duke and Duchess reached the top of the steps and the guard came to the salute by presenting arms and raising the colours. Major General Broadwood, Colonel Darling and other officers had gone forward to receive their Royal Highnesses, and after a few words of greeting His Royal Highness, who wore the uniform of a Field Marshal, inspected the guard, which was drawn from the regiment named after himself. Then the royal party advanced to the end of the pier proper where the members of the Reception Committee and others introduced to the Dake and Duchess. over,
Were This
Sir Paul Chater took up a position in front of the Duke, Duchess and Princers, and read the address of welcome which was in the following terms:
To Field-Marshal His Royal Highxres PRINCE ARTHUR WILLIAM PATRICK ALBERT,
DUKE OF CONNAUGHT AND OF STRATHEARN, K.G., K.T., KP., GREAT MASTER AND PRINCIPAL KNIGHT OF THE ỞBAND CROSS OF THE ORDER OF THE
G.C.8.1., BATH,
Q.C.M.G. G.C.1.E.. 0.C.7.0, IN- SPECTOR GENERAL OF THE FORCES, ETC, ETC., ETC.
|
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
associated work
( February 9, 1907.
I am also very glad to hear that a railway is shortly to connect you with Canton and, I hope, ultimately with Europe.
Ground, which was to form the foundation | America. It is therefore a peculiar pleasure to of a Scheme for, reclaiming large areas us to think how well placed Hongkong is to of dry land from the sea. To-day that recla- fight the battles for commercial supremacy; the mation is completed. To-day, on stepping value and importance of this great port is fully on shore, the wharf under your feet, the | appreciated by those at Home who watch over stately buildings rising on all side, intersected and guide the destinies of our Empire. by broard roads and thronged b maltitud nons am indeed proud to have been, 17 years ago, with the initial stages of the grest traffic, proclaim the achievement of the task the
of reclamation, which you have so Colony then set itself to perform. This reclama tion, begun noder your anspices, will remain successfully carried out. indissolubly connected with your name, aud. only a year avo, where now on it we stand to welcome you, we came to welcome your only sou. To you who aided its inception, who laid the first stone, we now show, with pride, the finished work and ask "IS IT WELL DONK "
The population of the Colony, on whose behalf and in whose name we greet Your Ryal Highness, has now swelled to nearly double 118 former numbers; its area has been largely extended; from being the third shipping port in the world it has become the first; and, not the least step in all its progress, the last few months have seen the making within its boundaries of the first embankments of that Railway which is to connect us with Cant n, aud in time, we trust, with Europe.
Interwoven as the history of our Empire is with the history of the battles that have won it, of the Navy and Army which have preserved it, of the men who have fought for it, it is a source of pride and gratification to all of us who, the subjects of our beloved Ruler, look to him for succour and protection, that the soldier he sends to see that the land defences which guard us are secure, is not a soldier only but also the brother of our King.
From all people who dwell here in security beneath His Reign, from all his subjects, from all those subjects of other nations who dwell amongst us, and particularly from the large numbers of Chinese who carry on their business unmolested and protected in our midst, we tender to Your Royal Highness, to Your Royal Consort and to Princess Patricia a most sincere and a most hearty welcome with every wish for a long continued and happy life.
visit does not permit our celebrating it in as We sincerely regret that the duration of your fitting a manner as we would desire; but we realise that you have duties both here and elsewhere in the Empire which you must per. form and we hope that you will accept the slight entertainment we are able to offer you as an earnest of what we should like to carry out did time and your engagements permit.
We wish you a fair voyage and a safe return home, and we beg you, on reaching England, to convey to our beloved King a message assuring him of the loyalty and devotion we bear towards him and of our appreciation of his r-cent kindly telegram, full of kingly sympathy. which deeply touched and made us feel that we, though living on the utmost border of the Empire, are over in the mind of our Gracious Sovereign.
6th February, 1907.
us
His Majesty the King-Emperor, who takes the greatest interest in his Far Eastern dominions, will be delighted when he hears from me of the heroic efforts you have made to over- come your difficulties and of the continued increas and prosperity of this Colony.
I will onvey to him the loyal expressions contained in your address.
As for ourselves, we thank you most heartily, and we greatly appreciate the kind sentiments in this address which I have very much pleasure in accepting.
The conclusion of the address was received with a eers, after which the party entered the chairs which were in waiting and proceeded along the Praya, past the Naval Yard, and up Garden Road to Government House. The route was held by the R.G.A., H.K.S. B. R.G.A. Royal Enginers, 3rd Middlesex Regiment, the Baluchis, and the Chinese sappers of the R.E., while the longkong Voluntee s had the place of honour at Governmet House. The escort was furnished by the Volnoteer Troop under Lieut. Ross and by a poss of Indian police in charg" of Sergt. Garrod. A dense crowd lined the roule and the greatest order prevailed. When the Royal visitors reached Government House the band played the National Anthem and the Union Jack was replaced by the Royal Standard,
The party comprised Field Marshall H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, H.R.H. the Duchess of Connaught, Princess Patricia, with Major General Sir John Maxwell, staff officer and. Captain the Hon. M. Pousonby, Grenadier Guard, aido-de-camp, Miss Pelly and Captain Coleman.
THE UNVEILING CEREMONY.
Not the least pleasing of the many fanctions which His Roval Highness had to perform, was that of auveiling the statues of His Majesty The King and H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. Long before the appointed time there was not a racet seat on the stands surrounding Statue Square, while the balconies, and even the roofs of Queen's and Prince's buildings, were black with spectators. The arrival of the Royal party was announced by the hand of the Middlesex regiment striking up " God save the King".
Then Their Royal Highnesses and H.E the Governor alighted from the Govern- ment House chairs and were met by Sir Paul Chater, who conducted them to the dais before te statue of His Majesty, the suite and the Hon. Mr. W. J. Greasod, Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, Mr. T. F. Hough and Captain
bia H.K.V.C. Armstrong,
Excellency's bonorary A.D.C., following in the rear.
SIR PAUL CH TER said: Your Royal Highness—in 1887 longkong as well as
May it please Your Royal Highness :—
Seventeen years ago it was our great pleasure, in welcoming Your Royal Highness and Your Boyal Consort to our Colony, to express our
all loyalty and devotion to our late beloved Queen whose loved and revered memory abides in the hearts of all of us who were Her subjects or who dwelt under Her rule. Again we seek to testify our loyalty and devotion to our Throne and to our Sovereign and gladly we rejoice in the opportunity of renewing our welcome and spe. oially of extending it to Her Royal Highness Princess Patricis, the first of our Princesses to visit our shores,
The years that have elapsed since last you visited us have brought both prosperity and adversity to the Colony in their train. Plague and its ravages, war and its uncertainties, tempest and its havoc, have each in turn visited it and, passing by, hare left deep footprints of their stops behind. Yet the Colony, though cast down, has not let itself be discouraged. Thongh faltering it has proceeded on its way, In spite of reverse it has progressed, has devel oped and marched forward, and to-day it stands looking back afar off to where it stood seven teen years ago.
In 1890 Your Royal Highness laid a stone, now embedded in the wall of the Cricket
It was
Sir PAUL handed the bound address to His ROYAL HIGHNESS, who in a firm, audible voice replied as follows:-Gentlemen-Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Connaught and myself, are delighted to renew our acquaintanca with Hongkong, and cordially thank you and its community, for the loyal and hearty welcome other parts of the British Empire you have given to us. My daughter, Princess celebrated the jubiles of your Illustrious Mother, Patricia who is, as you say, the first princess of our beloved late Queen Victoria. my family to visit your shores, desires me to then decided that one of the most fitting ways thank you for the very kind allusions to her by which we could commemorate the event was in your address. I can assure you. Gentlemen, by the erection hy pablis subscription of a that from His Majesty. The King-Emperor, statue of Her Maj sty to be placed in some all classes in Great Britain have heard, with suitable position in the Colony. In due time the deepest concern, of your struggles with it became my honour, as Chairman of the Committee, to ask Bir William adversity, of the ravages of the plague, and Jubilee of the havoc and deplorable loss of life caused Robinson, the Governor of the Colony at the by the recent typhoon. It is a source of great time, to perform the ceremony of unveiling that pride to us, Britons, to know that with a less statue which now stands in the centre of this vigorous and energetic community than yours, square. On that occasion the idea occurred to there terrible inflictions might well have cused
me of endeavouring to further embellish the your ruin. I pray, now, that these are matters ¦ square by statues of our reigning Sovereign, of the past, that there is an era of unbroken whom may God long preserve, our beloved commercial prosperity before you, also that the | Queen Alexandra and Their Royal Hignesses the Prince Bod Princess of Wales. The developments and progress, so well begun, will continue and prosper.
Statues of His Majesty the King and of His
Highness the
Wales Prince of asked to anreil to-day. The
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The unbounded commercial prospects of the | Royal Far East, the probable developm-nt of year you great neighbour, that wonderful and friendly statue of Her Maj sty Queen Alexandra bas subscribed for by the community nation China, has aroused the keen interest sad | been competition of all Western nations and of of the Colony as a fitting memorial of the
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