(3) Ample occupation was found for all hands in getting ready their correspondence. In the evening, however, the whole City was brilliantly illuminated. A brief outline of the illuminations and pyrotechnic displays is all that can be attempted here, but it will be sufficient to show that the inhabitants of Hongkong were determined to avail themselves to the utmost of the fine natural position of the City of Victoria for such an exhibition; and all nationalities, European, American, and Chinese, seemed to vie with each other in their attempts to express their loyal and kindly feelings towards the Sailor Prince of the Royal House of Great Britain. During the evening, His Royal Highness dined privately, in company with Admiral and Lady Keppel, at the hospitable mansion of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., East Point. Thence, returning by water to the City, the party landed by mistake at a wharf considerably east of that at which their chairs and escort had been ordered to wait for them. Much fatigue, inconvenience, and crushing amongst the dense masses of Chinese, who thronged the streets, resulted; all of which, however, was borne by His Royal Highness with the greatest patience and good humour. On finding their chairs, the party visited, under the experienced guidance of the Honorable Cecil C. Smith, Registrar General, the various places of interest for the purpose of witnessing the fireworks and illuminations; and wherever his chair was discovered by the crowd, enthusiastic cries of "Long Live the Prince," greeted his appearance.
His Royal Highness during the whole of his stay in Hongkong was favoured with “Queen's weather,” and that which prevailed on the occasion of the illuminations was all that could be wished. The night was dark, but clear, and as there was scarcely any wind, the Chinese lanterns, which were very extensively employed, showed to great advantage.
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