The advantage, and I am sure it could be turned to no better advantage than to have it raised and suitably turfed, and to have it turned into a place where the rising youth and the manly youth of this colony can enjoy their games at cricket or football or even polo, where the troops can occasionally assemble to go through their exercise, and where the crews of Her Majesty's vessels can be brought on shore and put through their drill. It seems to me it would look quite as well—the refreshing verdure of green turf in that valley—as to plant it in shrubberies and flower beds. (Applause). But the objection has been taken to this that it would be of no advantage to the Chinese portion of the community. I think it would be of great advantage to them, if not at present, in future, because there can be no doubt that in future at least—I hope it will be so—the Chinese youth from the public schools will freely mix in our games and amusements. And if the Colony goes on progressing as it has lately, there can be no doubt the buildings must extend to the east, as they have approached their extreme limit towards the west, and we shall find it as great an advantage to the Chinese portion of the community as the present Chinese Recreation Ground is to them now. But there is another disadvantage, which is that, call it by what name we please, the Wong-nei-chong valley will never be called anything but Wong-noi-chong by the Chinese, nor by Europeans will it ever lose that most felicitous name which has been given to it, "The Happy Valley." There has been also another proposal put forward, and that is one to which I am sure Her Majesty would most willingly give her assent, if we were sufficiently advanced for it, that is, to have a High School for girls, where girls of all classes and of all races could be educated together, similarly to the Victoria College for boys. We are turning out and shall continue to turn out young men more and more advanced, I hope, as years go by, but we are not providing in the same ratio suitable wives for them. We must also consider that the wife is the mother of the future generation, and it would be a great thing, if we were sufficiently ripe for it, to educate the mothers of the future generation who are to dwell amongst us, and a great thing for the people of the country.
The next proposition that has been put forward is one to increase the number of scholarships that are granted to the deserving youth of this colony who have passed the necessary examinations. And there can be no doubt that that also would be a very useful thing to be done and would be worthy of connection with Her Majesty's name. Another proposition that has been put forward is that there should be an institution founded to support and take care of the children who have been rescued from a life of infamy and vice, and no doubt that also would be a very useful institution in a colony such as this. There has also been a suggestion that it would be advisable to have some charitable institution which would relieve the Tung Wah Hospital of the distressed poor and form the nucleus of extending benevolence to those who need it, and of selecting only deserving cases. That also is an institution which we have not at present and which would be one that I am sure would commend itself to every charitable person's support if they considered it were at all practicable. I do not know that any other proposal has been made—none that I have heard of either publicly or privately—but they are all for your consideration.
I may say that at the preliminary meeting, both with regard to the time of holding the celebration and with regard to the proposal that a permanent memorial of the Jubilee year should be raised, there was some difference of opinion. The scheme for a park at Wong-noi-chong was carried by a small majority. The question for this meeting is, what shall be done. If you are unprepared and would like to take time to consider, it would be perfectly open to any person present to move as an amendment to the resolution either that this meeting should be postponed until the community had time for consideration or else that the committee we propose to appoint should endeavour to ascertain the views and wishes of the whole community. If, however, you are satisfied the proposal which will be laid before you is the best that can be adopted, well then, gentlemen, I hope we will all work heart and soul together to testify our respect to Her Majesty and to do honour to ourselves. (Applause).
Mr. Wei YU—I beg to second this resolution with pleasure, and I am sure that all Her Most Gracious Majesty's loyal Chinese subjects in this Colony will unite in celebrating this great occasion,
The resolution was carried by acclamation.
Hon. A. P. MACEWEN—Your honour and gentlemen, the resolution I have been asked to propose is one that I think will commend itself to the favourable consideration of this representative gathering, namely,
That the celebration take the form of a permanent institution of some description, to be called by Her Majesty's name, and of a fête and general rejoicings. I think it will be agreed on all sides that something should be done, not only to celebrate the auspicious event of the completion of Her Majesty's fiftieth prosperous year of her reign by festivities, but that we should show to future generations of colonists by some definite and permanent set the veneration and respect in which the Queen is held by all classes of her subjects in this distant possession of the Crown. It is for this meeting to decide as to what form that something should take. I am aware there exist various differences of opinion upon that point, but I will not trespass upon the opinions of speakers who are to follow me, but will merely express the hope that the wishes of the majority will be cordially acquiesced in by the colony as a whole, and that whatever may be decided on will take some practical and useful shape which will be acceptable to Her Majesty (Applause) as well as of lasting benefit to this colony.
The second part of the resolution refers to a fête and general rejoicings. I think this will very much depend on the time of year that is fixed for it. Individually I am of opinion the sooner it is held the better. (Applause). A committee will have to be appointed to make all the necessary arrangements, which I presume will include illuminations and fireworks. I am aware that in the opinion of many people spluttering of this description is money wasted, but still it is "old custom" and will go very far to impress the native community. I only hope one and all will join heartily in commemorating the reign of one who as a Queen has commanded the respect of all foreign powers and the esteem and affection of her loyal subjects in all quarters of the Empire. (Applause).
Mr. H. M. MEHTA—You will all agree with me when I say that there can hardly be two opinions about the Hon. Mr. MacEwen's proposition. That proposition speaks for itself, and in this Colony, wanting as it is in useful permanent institutions, it could hardly be gainsaid that the Jubilee celebration should take the form of a permanent institution. The latter part of the proposition about a fête and general rejoicings should also commend itself to your approbation, not that there is any want of fêtes and rejoicings in this colony, but because the occasion of a jubilee celebration is exceptional, and on an exceptional occasion we should have our fêtes and rejoicings on an exceptional scale. With these few remarks, gentlemen, I beg to second Mr. MacEwen's proposition.
Mr. J. J. FRANCIS, Q.C.—Sir, I take the liberty of suggesting for the consideration of this meeting an amendment to this resolution with a view to eliciting the feelings of the meeting on one of the many points suggested by the Chief Justice in his admirable address. The resolution, as has been pointed out, consists of two parts, that there shall be a fête and general rejoicings, and, further, that some permanent institution shall be established—and I presume the meaning of that is some permanent institution to be established in the colony—to be called by Her Majesty's name and to be a memorial to all time of this jubilee occasion. Now it seems to me, and I submit it for your consideration, whether we are in a position to raise sufficient funds in this colony to establish any permanent institution on an adequate scale which would be worthy of the occasion, and whether it would not be better any spare funds we may have at our disposal should be devoted to the attainment of that object to which, as the Chief Justice has said, Her Majesty's sanction has been given and which, as stated recently by the Prince of Wales at a public meeting in England, she is most desirous should be carried out, and thoroughly carried out. I therefore move as an amendment to this resolution that the words "permanent institution of some description to be called by Her Majesty's name" be...