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much to believe that she must of necessity always constitute an element to be care- fully and fully weighed. Great and important movements have lately taken place in the Far East, possibly greater and more important changes yet are even now in contemplation which will enforce the gravest attention of Diplomacy, and Her Majesty's Government, in its decision upon those events, in its determination of the path to pursue, can hardly omit Hongkong from its serious consideration. saying this, I do not forget, that her place in the Colonies of the Crown, if won in some part by her own vigour, is largely due to her standing in line with those other Colonies which together constitute the Brotherhood known to-day as Greater Britain.
In
Sir, in the evolution of time generation will succeed generation in Hongkong, new firms will arise, new projects will be formed; new personalities will seek to advance the Colony's influence and promote ber enterprise, long after names, familiar enough now, have vanished into the past and been forgotten. Yet will this Statue remain, to impress upon those who follow us the rights and privileges which, under British laws, they will ever enjoy, the security which the British Constitution throws over those who live within the sphere of its protection, and above all, Sir, the freedom, the greatest benefit perhaps that mankind has ever known, which exists to-day, and always must exist, beneath the Royal Standard of Great Britain.
I now ask your Excellency to unveil the Statue.