HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1933
OFFICIAL OPENING OF BRITISH EMPIRE FAIR
H. E. THE GOVERNOR'S
GOVERNOR'S TRIBUTE TO
HUGE CROWD OF VISITORS AT
PENINSULA HOTEL
'These Fairs are Great Factors in Empire's
Commercial Life ---SIR WILLIAM PEEL
GREETINGS FROM THE
DOMINIONS
THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION YESTERDAY BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, 'SIR WILLIAM PEEL K.B.E., K.C.M.G., MARKED THE CULMINATION OF MONTES OF PREPARA- TION,, NOT ONLY BY THE EXHIBITION COMMITTEE,
BUT ALSO BY THE MANY LOCAL FIRMS WHO ARE GIVING THEIR SUPPORT.
i.
The opening ceremony was an impressive one and the first floor of the Peninsula Hotel was packed with people when the Hon. Mr. J. J. Paterson, Chairman of the Empire Fair Committee, ex- tended a welcome to notable Chinese visitors from Canton and called upon His Excellency the Governor to declare the Fair оред,
The number of visitors who attended the tair yesterday ex ceeded all expectations, and long before 12 noon, the time fixed for the opening, there was a large crowd at the Hotel and on the Fair ground to the East of the Hotel.
EMPIRE DAY
The happy choice of Empire Day for the opening of the Fair carried with it one great advantage. With the schools and all Government Departments on holiday many people attended greater- day who would otherwise have been in "their offices or at school. From the point of view of attendance therefore, there was nothing left to be desired.
On entering the Peninsula Hotel ond" was buyiblered by the variety and range of the stalls. Every oxhibitor has made it a
· point to attract the visitor and accordingly above the babel of voices and chatter one's attention was drawn to the many appeal- fing invitations that are flashed everywhere. To appreciate the
Fair properly, it would not be a bad idea to take a quick walk. reunil the ground floor of the, hotel, jako in rapidly the features ** that are likely to attract you, and then, to go over the ground again and study in d more leisurely way, the things that you most want to see.
THE BANK-IN SUGAR
One of the most attractive displays was appropriately rough something made of sugar. It was the work of Mr. Rene Boyer, Chef Patissier of the Peninsula Hotel and it was a model of about six feet square and four feet high of the proposed new building of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank. If the finished work would look as well from the Harbour as the minature appear". ed yesterday, Hong Kong would have good reason to be proud of the premises of its leading bank.
It would be impossible to describe in detail the many interest- ing things that may be seen. The local Neonlite. Company have' struck very happy idea by installing a neolite sign over their stall, depicting an aeroplane in full flight.
THE MOTOR SHOW
On the fair grounds by the Hotel, the motor show, embody- ing as it does, a wide range of chrs of the latest models proved a great attraction and things were made all the more interesting by the courteous manner in, which representatives of the various makes of car willingly demonstrated to inquirers interesting fen: tures-connected with each model. "Ong exhibitor proved the centre of attraction in, this department by showing with a model the essa and facility with which gear changing could be accomplished. Another attractive feature of the Fair was the willingness with which many of the exhibitors provided visitors with samples of their wares. Particularly is this true of foodstuff, and at some of these stalls large quantities of samples were given free, LOCAL PRODUCE :
The exhibits of the New Territories consisting mainly of vegetables and fruits bad a magnetism all its own. As if by in stinct most women will try and buy something at these stalls. One observed that fresh mushrooms found ready purchasers and some of the fruits grown locally also enjoyed a fairly good sule. There was one stall of fresh fish (caught, we presume, in British waters) but apparently the publio preferred the tinned stuff of which many varieties were obtainable at the fair,
There were many visitors to the poultry show and some of the exhibits reached a high standard. The flower show was well worth a visit and many pretty blooms were on' sále.
Every section of the Empire was well represented, some to a greater and some to a lesser extent, An interesting, if somewhat humble stall, offered Indian products to visitors in the way of curry powder and paste and other condiments that go to make up Indian dietetics..
..
Taken on the whole the Fair promises to be a great sucCESS and' judging by the number of visitors it seems certain that those who have devoted' so`much time and attention to it will not see their efforts wasted.
THE OPENING CEREMONY
ORGANISERS LORD DERBY'S
Committee). On the left were Lady Peel, the Mayor of Canton (Mr. "Liu Chi Wen) and Mrs. Liu Chi Wen, Major V. E. Duclos (Canadian Trade Commissioner ip Hong Kong), Mr. S. T. Williamson (Hon. Agent for New Zealand), Hon. Mr. R. H. Kotewall, C.M.G. (Vice-Chairman).
· Britannis Tableau.
A tableau, representing Britannia was staged behind the dais.
Those attending the opening cere mony included H.E. the General Officer Commanding, Major-General 0. C. Borrett, C.B.. C.M.G., D.S.O., C.B.E., and Mrs. Borrett, H.H. thu Chief Justice and Mrs. J. R. Wood, representatives of the Consular Body, officials from Can ton, the Commodore and Mrs. Marrack, members of the Executive Council, Government officials, mem- hers of the General Committee of the Fair, exhibitors and the general publio.
THE HON. MR. J. J.
PATERSON'S WELCOME
Addressing the gathering, the
Hon. Mr. J. J. Paterson said:--- Your Excellencies, Ladies
and Gentlemen: The first Empire Fair in Hong Kong, held a year ago i though it called for a great deal of work from the organisers, was smaller than the Eair we present to you to-day. We made the Open- ing Ceremony a local affair. I believe His Majesty's Consul-Gen- eral at Canton was the only visitor From the outside world.
or five times
When we found, however, that we were going to put up a show four large as before, covering an area of over an acre, we felt that we need not be quite a modest. Seeing that the Em pire goods on show to-day are all intended for the great market of South China, we invited the Chair- man of the Kwangtang Provincial Government, Mr. Lin Yun Koy; the Mayor of Canton, Mr. Liu Chi Wen and Mrs. Liu Chi Wen; the Inspector-General for
Foreign Affairs for Kwantung, Kwangsi, etc., Mr. Kan Chich-Hou and Mra. Kan Chich Hou; the Commissioner of Public Safety, General Ho Lok; the Counsellor to the 1st Group Army Headquarters, Colonel C. W Leung, the Municipal Counsellor and Secretary to the Mayor, Dr. Wu Paak Shing and Mrs. Wu Paak Shing; the Secretary to the Chair. man of the Kwangtung Govern ment, Mr. Chow Hok Tong and the Secretary to the Commissioner of Public Safety, Mr. W. S. Lun, to accept our hospitality and be pre sent here to-day.
MESSAGE TO H.E.
PROSPERITY & HAPPINESS
TO HONG KONG
Lord Derby, who is President of the Junior Carlton Club, is giving an. Empire Luncheon yesterday | ¡Wednesday) at which the Right Honourable J. H. Thomas, His Majesty's Minister for the Domi- nions, and the Right Honourable Sir Philip Cunliffe Lister, His Majesty's Minister for the Colonies, will be present.
Lord Derby has sent the follow- ing telegram to His Excellency the Governor:
GOVERNOR'S SPEECH
His Excellency the Governor said: Mr. Paterson, Your Excellen dies, Ladies and Gentlemen,-I am very pleased to have the privilege today of opening the second Em- pire Products Fair held in Hong Kong. As you know, the idea was started last year as the outcome of a letter addressed by Mrs. Amery, the wife of a former Secretary of State for the Colonies, to my wife, in which among other things she ruzgested an all-British Food day.
The proposal to have, an Empire Products Fair was taken up with great enthusiasm. My wile assisted Sir William Peel, Victoria, in the preliminary dlages, but to Hong Kong, The Junior Carlton our regret we were unable to be Club and assembled guests send here for the Fair itself.
We were sincerest wishes for prosperity | however 'greatly interested in the and happiness to yourself and all | accounts which were sent to (13 people of Hong Kong-DERBY. There was no doubt that it was a SIR WILLIAM PEEL'S REPLY.
great triumph, and I take this op- His Excellenly the Governor has portunity of congratulating all those who helped to achieve that success. replied as follows:
It was indeed so stressful that it was quite rightly decided that an- other Fair should be held this year, and there is no need for me to say that that decision has been imply justified, and that this your'e Fair will greatly surpass that of list year.
To Lord Derby, Junior Carlton Club, London, On behalf of my- self and the people of Hong Kong I thank the Club and assembled guests for their message. This Colony earnestly desires loyally to co-operate in strengthening the unity of our great Empire and is working to that end-PEEL. Governor.
Greetings from the Empire
CANADA
Major Duclos then read the fol- lowing message from The Hon. H. H. Stevens, Minister, Department of Trade and Commerce, of the Canada Government!-
Objects of the Fair. Such Fairs have Goen instituted in many parts of the Empire. The British Industries Fair was started in a modest way in London soon after the War, and has grown to be of the greatest commerein) value, Another Fair of the same kind has been held at Birmingham for the inst fourteen years and yearly gains increasing popularity. Many of the colonies participate in that held in London, Fiji being one of the latest notable additions; and I hope that at no distant date Hong Kong will be able to participate, ahoving the people at Hone that this Colony is developing valuable industries of its own
and
The Dominion of Canada cordi- ally associates herself with the Crown Colony of Hong Kong by participating in the British Em-
in a recent edition of a very in- It is gratifying to the Canadian teresting journal called 'The Crown pire Fair which is opening to-day. Government, and particularly to Colonist," I noticed in a map show. myself, as Minister of Trade and ing the various sources of Empire Commerce, that Canada has been products that Hong Kong was
"Loent industries accorded such excellent facilities marked for thus displaying before the citi- trans-shipment for China," A few zens of Hong Kong and South years ago the words "local indus- China samples of her natural pro- tries would probably not have ducts and manufactures, with been written. Hong Kong then view to further extending inter- being considered very little more Imperial trade between these two
than a mere trancit port. sections of the British Common- tries are now growing up in this wealth of Nations. It is particn- Colony, one of the most notable arly fitting that this Fair should perhaps of recent ventures being open on May 24, the anniversary the brewing of beer! Only recently of the "Mother of the Empire. I was informed by the head of a the late Queen Victoria and a day well-known Hong Kong frut: that eslebrated throughout the British they had a very large order fra Empire as indicative of its solidar- England for rubber soled shoes ity and its devotion to the Crown. manufactured here,
The Crown Colony of Hong Kong These Faire are great factors in and the Dominion of Canada have the commercial life of the Empire. much in common. Their products and help to make us realise what and manufactures are to a large our great Empire is capable of pro- extent complementary, and it is to ducing. It is wonderful how little the advantage of both countries many of us know of its great re-
Indus-
BRITISH EMPIRE FAIR
We are showing at stand No. 77 in
the Cafeteria at the Peninsula Hotel
from May 24th to May 27th.
Visitors to this stand will be inter-
ested in the quality of the productions shown. They will truly uphold the British Traditions of quality and finish.
Powell's have for over fifty years specialized in everything appertaining to Gentlemen's wearing apparel of reliable quality.
Wm. POWELL, Ltd.
The Gentlemen's House,
Queen's Road Central.- -Ice House Street Corner,
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NEW No. 16A SOUNDBOX. $140.00.
WITH ELECTRIC MOTOR $160,00.
Less 10% discount for cash.
Ice House Street.
tel. 21822.
Welcome to H.E, the Governor. Therefore it is my privilege this that this trade should be consider-sources. I had an opportunity or The Anderson MusicCo., Ltd. morning, in the first place, to wel- ably increased. Hong Kong is at visiting the Fair in London in 1928. core His Excellency the Governor, the spearhead of a large and prae- and I must confess to great surprise who has taken the greatest interest tically unexploited trade territory at many of the things I saw there. in this project and who kindly pro- which will, when the existing diffi- mised some months ago to perform culties have passed, provide Heng the Opening Ceremony. Secondly, Kong with a market for many of as this is, I think, the first large Canada's products and which in gathering which Lady Peel has return may provide attended since her recent illness, I Canada's wants. am sure you would wish me to ex- It was with the abject of pro-servatiam, in spite of considerable
trade between press on your behalf our congratu-ads and this territory that the lations on her recovery and our pleasure that she is here to grace appointment of a Trade Commis
greater
many of
A British Falling. The British Empire has held a
perhaps high position in irade, but owing to over-confidence has tended to sink in a slough of con-
tochnical advances in industry," Where we really have to some ex- tent failed is in actual trading
We have been inclined to stand the occasion.
sioner was made in 1929. It is to
on a past reputation of the excel- Next I wish to thank, in the the advantage of Hong Kong im name of the General Committee of porters to prepare for the future. lence of our goods, which has al- the Empire Fair, the Chairman of Canada can provide them with ways heen high, and have been the Kwangtung Provincial Govern many of their requirements and extraordinarily unwilling to investi- ment, the Mayor of Canton and the since it is to their advantage to gute changes in demand Suppliers other distinguished Ladies and
cultivate a trading partnership with seem to hold the view that they
should decide on what the con Gentlemen from Canton who have that Dominion. honoured us today by accepting
I congratulate the Chairman and sumer should take, ignoring the our invitation to the Fair. We Committee on their efforts to make adage that he who pays the pipet trust that what they see here will the Fair & success and feel sur has the right to call the tune. This be of great interest to them and that they will be fully justified by tendency, as far as the Far East is concerned, was recognised by the that their visit will further streng- the results obtained.
Economic Mission which visited the then the friendly relations between
Far East over two years ago, and South China and Hong Kong.
Mr. S. T. Williamson read the Counsellor to our Peiping Legation, also by Mr. Beale. now Commercial. following message from Mr. Mas who drew attention to it in a report tere, the Minister
of Industries which he wrote on trade in Malaya
Thanks to Helpers.
NEW ZEALAND
AUSTRALIA
Mr. J. A. Tonkin read the fol- lowing sage from the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth Government of Australia:
As the Fair has so greatly out and Commerce in the New Zealand some years ago, when 1 Brst met grown even the large amount of Government:-Please expresses him there. There is no doubt that
of the New Zesland space which the Hotel Company wishes
our Government for the success of the followed fortuitous methods, and many of our large suppliers have. has so generously placed at disposal, I have to express my re- Empira Fair and appreciation of have not appreciated the necessity gret that it is impossible to pro- the efforts of Government, com of studying their markets. I think vide seats for all who are present. mittees, Hotel company and others that I can truthfully say that great The best amende I can make is to to further Empire trade. Also ex-
improvements have now been made be brief. Let me therefore extend press our thanks for the assistance in cur methods he quality of our a cordial welcome to His Majesty's rendered to New Zealand in this reads has always been of a high Acting Consul-Ganaral at Canton, connection.
standard and with a better realizá "Mr. Jamieson and to our local
tion of the special needs and desires. guests. In particular I wish to
of our customers I feel that there take this opportunity of expressing,
is every prospect of a considerable in all sincerity, grateful thanks to
increase in trade. If however sup- the hundreds of workers and ex-
pliers wish to achieve a maximum hibitors for their support. I want
of success. I think that they should. On behalf of the Commonwealth employ what might term special also to thank Mr. Taggart and The opening ceremony took place
the Directors of the Hong Kong Government, I wish the Empire Trade Commissioners of their own in the first floor lounge of the
and Shanghai Hotels Ltd., for Fair every success and hope it will to carry out a continuous investiga- Peninsuli Hotel at noon,
their invaluable assistance, the mark opening of many now avenues tion of the needle and desires of H.E. the Governor (Sir William The Chairman was supported on general public for their attendance inter Empire trade. Appreciation those whose custom they wish to Peel, K.O.M.G., E.B.E.) and Lady the dais, on the right, by H.E the and to express the hope that is expressed to the Government of retain and develop. Peel were met on arrival at the Governor, the Chairman of the "dividend warrants will soon be Hong Kong for the encouragement At the same time I must say that main entrance of the Hotel by the Kwangtung Provincial Government ready in the shape of a largo in and assistance in launching the I think that it is time that we had Chairman of the Empire Fair Com (Mr. Lin Yun Koy), II.B.M. Acting orense of British trade as the re- Fair, and to the Fair Committees, something in the nature of a British reittee (the Hon. Mr. J. J. Pater Consul-General (Mr. E. G. Jamie sult, of this Fair.
the Hotel Company, the Hon. Mr. Trade Commissioner here to repre- soa), accompanied by the Vice x O.BE), Mr. J. A. Tonion. I will now call upon Major V. JP. Braga, and those organisa sent the Home County and thage E. Duclos, Canadian Trade Com- tions and associations whose ac parts of the Empire, which are not Chairman of the Committee, the (representing the Department of missioner in Hong Kong, to read tivities have been responsible for a present. représented, and I am Dominion and Commonwealth re- Commerce of the Australion Com-
message from the Hon. H. this display of Empire products, in hopes that such an appointment resentatives and the Hon. Secrmonwealth Government), Hon Mr. H. Stavens, Minister of the Do Your Fair will be successful and may materialise in the not fat, diss tary of the Fair Committee. J. P. Braga (Vice Chairman) and partment of Trade and Commerce beneficia) to all British and Domin- fant future.
The pirty proceeded between the principal organiser of the Fair of the Dominion of Canada. ion participanta
(Continued
ranks of a Guard of Honour of Gid Guides and Boy Scouts to the
first floor.
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