February 27, 1877
THE CHINESE FAREWELL DEPUTATION.
A very numerously attended deputation of the leading members of the Chinese Community (there being no less than 40 or more) waited on His Excellency the Governor, Sir Arthur Kennedy, to present him with an Address prior to his leaving for Queensland. Among those forming the deputation were Messrs Lee Sing and Lee Tuk Cheong, members of the Wohang Firm, Leong On, Wong Shing, Ho Sik, Kwok Acheong, Wong Kwan Tong, Chun Sai Sang, and others. The address is in Chinese written in gold on a piece of white satin, about three yards long and a yard broad. It is in the shape of a Chinese picture mounted with two rollers at each end so that it might be hung or rolled up at pleasure. The upper portion of the satin is devoted to the Chinese version, and the lower portion to the English translation, written in vermilion. The lining is of red silk, and the whole piece of white satin is mounted on red ground, with fanciful embroidery at the top and sides. Altogether the address is a very handsome piece of ornament for the drawing room. The scroll when rolled up is placed in an exquisitely carved sandal-wood box, which calls forth much admiration. Besides this address, the Chinese presented His Excellency with a "Man Man San," a very handsome large umbrella such as those usually seen in processions. This is also very nicely embroidered all round, and the two tassels bear an inscription of its being presented to Sir Arthur Kennedy. It would perhaps be open to question in a foreign point of view to encumber His Excellency with such a piece of furniture, but to those of our readers who know anything of the Chinese they will see that the spontaneous presentation of a "Man Man San" is much coveted by Chinese officials and is considered by them as the highest mark of honour which their subjects can show to them. If we are not mistaken, Sir Arthur is the first Governor of Hongkong who has ever been presented with a "Man Man San." Indeed, we do not think any Governor has ever been presented an address so elaborately worked. Even when the Duke of Edinburgh was here, the address presented to him was only on parchment, notwithstanding the great demonstration made by the Chinese here for his reception.
Mr M. S. Tonnochy, the Acting Registrar General, was also present.
After the members of the deputation were seated, H. E. came into the room with Mr Brassey, M. P., who had arrived in the Royal Yacht Sunbeam on his tour round the world.
His Excellency said: Before you proceed I wish you to explain to the Deputation that there is a gentleman here, a friend of mine, who is a member of the Queen's Parliament. He is travelling and he came here to see as much as he could of China, and I am quite sure he will be pleased to meet here the leading members of the Chinese community in Hongkong.
Mr Chun Ayin, who was deputed to read the address and to act as speaker, then rose and said:
May it please your Excellency,--We have come to pay our farewell respects to Your Excellency. The large number of us here to-day shows that our sentiment is universal and sincere. Though your government here has been short, your Excellency has endeared yourself to every section of the community by your kindness and wisdom. We have never had here a Governor who has so successfully ruled the Chinese as your Excellency, and the opportunities you have often allowed to us to approach you to represent our views on measures affecting the welfare of the Chinese have been the means of bringing about a better understanding between the Chinese and the foreigners, an understanding which we hope will be maintained by your successor.
We beg to present your Excellency with an address, which I shall have the honour to read, and wish a "Man Man San," the "Official Umbrella" as it is called by Europeans. The true meaning, however, gives it a greater significance. It means the "Umbrella of the People," and is an emblem of the kind protection they have received from the official to whom it is presented. The "Man Man San," let me assure your Excellency, is the greatest sign by which the Chinese express to their officials the high esteem and regard they entertain for them.
Our address is in the Chinese language, but we have prepared two versions in English, one of which, with your Excellency's permission, I shall read; a copy of the other, which expresses our sentiment more idiomatically, has been sent to your Excellency.
Mr Chun Ayin then read as follows:-
To His Excellency SIR ARTHUR EDWARD KENNEDY, K.C.M.G., C.B., Governor of Hongkong, &c. &c.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,-We have the honour to ask, on behalf of the Chinese community of Hongkong, that you will accept this farewell address as a tribute to the character of your administration.
As nature cherishes and maintains all things, without distinction or partiality, so should it be the object of the governing class to consider and cherish the governed, and to take advantage of all local conditions or circumstances to benefit them, as nature takes advantage of the recurring seasons. This we have found exemplified in the very highest degree during your Excellency's tenure of office, for your kindness and protection have been extended to every class alike, realising the Divine ideal of care for all. Nor do we know where to find your equal in this parental goodness.
"It is with pride and pleasure that we review your distinguished career from the early days of your education, your entrance into the Army and service there, your transfer to the Civil branch, and your rapid promotion until you first obtained a Government. This was in Gambia, where you set an example of a sound and excellent policy. You were then transferred to Sierra Leone, and in addition to the duties of Governor discharged those of Consul-General with great ability. You then assumed the Government of Western Australia, then of Vancouver's Island, then of the West African Settlements, and finally, in 1872, you were appointed Governor of Hongkong, where you have now been four years.
The services of veteran officers like your Excellency are a vital necessity to the British Empire, and we find that you have vindicated Her Majesty's choice by your admirable conduct in the governments which have been intrusted to you. The labours of fifty years have now brought you to the conclusion of a sixth service of this kind, during which you have so governed a spot thousands of miles away from home as to win praise from all. We had hoped for a longer continuance of the privileges we have enjoyed under your impartial rule.
We regret that you are shortly to be removed, but we shall never cease to cherish and respect your memory.
On learning that your Excellency had been appointed to the Governorship of Queensland, it naturally occurred to us to inquire what we could do to perpetuate a remembrance of the good government we have witnessed. There is a unanimous public feeling that a permanent memorial of it should be kept, in compliance with which we have endeavoured to put on record our sense of your earnest sincerity in advancing the common welfare.
Hongkong is inhabited by a mixed population, and from this circumstance and its proximity to the Canton province, it is at all times only too likely to become a refuge for bad characters. But you have so energetically worked the deportation laws as to keep the Colony unusually free from crime and disturbance. The police has been efficient, and the magistrates have systematically enforced enactments whose object is to keep away offenders and to benefit all the respectable classes. As compared with former times, a very great improvement in order and quietness has been effected during the last few years, and this we owe to the excellent measures of your Excellency.
Your intimate acquaintance with the subject of prison discipline and interest in the condition of the gaol have induced a most satisfactory state of that establishment, in spite of the number of prisoners confined there. Moreover, the Chinese community have been allowed personally to explain to you any grievances of which they might have to complain, thus realising the saying- "The mirror of justice hung high in Tain: There was not a single wrongfully detained prisoner in Cho."
You have devoted much attention to education, allowing grants-in-aid to the various schools, and instituting periodical examinations according to the results of which the students are rewarded and the schools assisted.
But whilst your Excellency's good government has thus been displayed in your zeal for the redress of grievances and for the support of education, in no direction have your unselfish efforts for the benefit of all classes been more deservedly successful than in putting down the slave trade and the traffic in women. The former, from which a neighbouring colony derived great gain, could not but move your indignation; and your reports to the British Government were eventually the means of inducing that of Portugal to stop the traffic, whilst at the same time you effectually prevented its being carried on by vessels from Hongkong. The evil was got rid of, corruption gave place to purity, kidnapping came to an end. The prohibition of the nefarious sale of women and girls affords protection to those who are well disposed, and tends to the establishment of a better state of morals. The happy results of your Excellency's reforms have extended to men and women alike.
We have thus imperfectly set forth a few only of the more salient features of your policy, leaving untouched other admirable characteristics too many to detail. Our national legend preserves the names of officials whose departure awakened regret similar to that we now experience. The tory boots of one were kept by the people as a memorial of him. The likeness of another was handed down to posterity. When they quitted their posts, the sorrowing populace clung to the shafts of their carriages and threw themselves before the wheels. The nearness of Your Excellency's departure increases our desire to record your good service as permanently as if they were engraved in brass or cut in stone: May we be allowed to do this in verse?
The waves done by every shore
World-wide his waters rise and fall
So thos, and from no niggard store,..
Hast toll, and care, and love for all;
In England's Jerrics now grown gray,
Ruling this island far away.
"Alas! thy face is set to go:
Fond memory sadly lingers here,
The sorrowing people only know
One hope as sweet, one chance as dear
Come back, come back to us again,
Change sighs to smiles, bring joy for pain,
Presented by the Chinese Community of Hongkong.
Hongkong, February, 1877.
(Literal Translation.).
This valedictory address is respectfully presented to His Excellency Sir Arthur Edward Kennedy, K.C.M.G., and C.B., Governor of Hongkong and its Dependencies, Commander-in-chief and Vice-admiral of the same, as a compliment to him on his good administration.
As it is the nature of Heaven and Earth to love all objects, so it should be the desire of Officials to love the subjects they govern, and while Heaven and Earth nourish things according to the state of the various seasons, Officials improve the condition of their subjects according to the circumstances of the places they rule. The benign influence of His Excellency's overspreading protection is as exalted as Heaven, and his kind-heartedness extends to all foreigners and Chinese alike, thus carrying out God's will of universal protection. Of those who are fathers of their people, who is to be compared to His Excellency Sir Arthur?
His Excellency having received a thorough education in his youthful days, joined the army at maturity and held at first a military ...
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