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F. Machado,
C. G. Le Couteur,
A. Cochran, M.D.,
J. Thornton,
J. M. Murray, M.D,,
Jas. Jarman,
F. A. Qain,
W. H. Collaço,
J. Collins,
C. Collins,
A. Sassoon,
Sol. D. Sassoon,
Alfred Lister,
A. C. Camajee,
A. Pestonjee Setna,
N. Pestonjee Moolan Ferozey S. Ezekiel,
Bapoorjee Pallanjee Ranjee,
Findonjee Dhunjeebhoy,
D. Ruttonjee,
J. B. Colah,
Pellanjee Cursetjee, Dhurumsey Poonjabhay, Pestoujee Dinshaw,
D. C. Tala,
Alfred L. Juoner,
D. R. Crawford,
R. H. Cairns,
Fred. M. Hareant, George A. F. Norris,
G. Falconer,
A. Harley,
J. Noble,
H. Smith,
J. Urquhart, Charles J. Bristow,
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Robert Brett, D. Noronha,
S. A. Seth,
J. W. Endicott, W. Gaskell.
The Hon. W. T. Mercer replied as follows:-Gentlemen, -I am deeply indebted to you for the high and gratifying compliment paid me after my unusual, and I may say singular, length of service in this Colony. Having been for many years past, the only remaining one of the original staff sent out in 1844 to organise the Government of Hongkong, it is quite time that I should think of making my departing bow, and you will agree with me, that it cannot be matter of surprise that the faculty should be of the same opinion. The community of Hongkong is natu- rally a varying and changeable one as regards its component individual parts, and therefore I am pleased to hear that while you offer me the expression of your confidence, you answer also for those who have gone before you, as holding the same views with regard to me as yourselves. As to my official conduct, I can but say that I have endeavoured to do my duty, and I am happy to know that the public records prove that in the opinion of the Go- vernors under whom I have served, I have succeeded in doing it, while my administration of this Government for a period of nearly three years has received the approval of the Secretary of State. I shall be brief, gentlemen, but I wish to say one word as to the Colony and its future. I shall not occupy your time in dwelling on its marvellous growth and continued prosperity. Where little more than a quarter of a century back were a barren hill side and a few fishing-huts, now rise stately palaces and substantial godowns. For the rude boats and uncouth junks that once paid occasional visits to the waters of Hongkong, you sce now the tapering mast and the smoky funnel that
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