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.
His Excellency said- Mr Chairman and Gentlemen, I have accepted with great: pleasure the invitation of the Jubilee Com- mittee, and of the loyal community of Hongkong, to unveil this statue of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. I feel highly honoured at having to take so prominent a part in this interesting function, and am glad to think that my name will for all time be connected with it. This immense con- course of Her Majesty's loyal subjects, and of the Representatives of other Powers with their fellow-countrymen, is a sight which will never be forgotten by those who are witnessing it. Mr Chairman and Gentlemen, This statue is to commemorate the Jubiles of Her Majesty in 1887. Let me therefore for a moment compare the past of Hongkong with the present. Fifty- nine years ago Hongkong was a barren rock inhabited by 200 or 300 persons,
The harbour was unfrequented by vessels. At the present moment the Colony presents a remarkable object leason to the newly ar- rived resident or traveller, unequalled, I believe, in any other part of the world. He sees before him large and, in some cases, magnificent Banks, City Halls, and Houses of Business stretching for several miles along the sea front. Inland he sees rising tier above tier hundreds of fine houses built by and for the thriving mer- chants of the City. The harbour which Afty-nine years ago was nearly empty of shipping is now filled by steamers and sail. ing vessels which represent au aggregate capacity of some 15,000,000 of toas
per Binum. This wonderful growth has taken place during the reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoris. And in the place of a few hundred people, Hongkong has now a population of over 250,000 souls. Of these about 240,000 are Chinese. They live bere under no compulsion. They are freemon, and are attracted by our liberal. institutions and by the equitable treatment and justice of Her Majesty's rule. Mr Chairman and Gentlemen, Of the future prosperity and growth of Hongkong I have not the slightest doubt. Her geographical position, her importanos as a great em- porium of trade and a strong Military and Naval Station in that girdle of British Colonias which encircles the world is fully recognized by Her Majesty's Government, The opening of the West River, and of ad- ditional freeports in China, will give a further impetus to trade between Great Britain and that enormous and undeveloped Empire, Such measures which can be re- garded as certain of fulfilment in the near fature will be of inestimable value to Imillions of the subjects of the Emperor of China as well as to the able and energetic Community of Hongkong, In conclusion, Mr Chairman and Gentlemen, I congratulate you on the saleation of this fine site for Her Majesty's Statue, and I also congratu late you heartily on the excellent arrange. ments which you have made for giving to this auspicious and unprecedented event an importance and significaneo which it alone could deserve. With the words on my lips į of 'God Save the Queen' I now unveil this Statue.
THE MILITARY REVIEW,
The status having been gaveiled, amidst 1 the applause of the masembled thousande,
the troops gave a general salute, whilst the massed bands, under the conductorship of Bandmaster Peachey of the Rifle Brigade, played God Save the Queen. The Asiatic Artillery and the Field Battery of the Hongkong Volunteers then fired a salute of twenty-one guns from the seven-poun ders on the Cricket Ground, the infantry firing a feu de joie. This over, the order for fixed bayoneta was given, and the whole of the forces on the ground gave a Royal Salute, the bands again playing God Save the Queen'; the unveiling ceremony being brought to a close by the troops and specta- tore raising three lusty cheers for Her Majesty.
With wonderful alacrity and exactitude, the troops were then marched off to various points preparatory to the march past. Nothing could have exceeded the smart- ness with which this movement was exe- cuted. It provided an object lesson to the Chinese of what it is possible to do with British troops under the discipline of British officers. That everything was car- ried through without the slightest ap- proach to a hitch reflects the greatest credit on officers aud men alike, British and Asiatic.
The march-past was equally well man. Jaged. Owing to the evolutious having to be performed in somewhat restricted compass, the troops were formed into double sections of fours, with officers leading and the non- commissioned officors on the fanks. This was the best formation for the ground, and while, judged from a military point of view, the movements did not have the same grandeur as a proper review, they were at.. least aufficient to display the caraful dril. ling and excellent discipline of the men. The spectacle presented as the closely-com- pacted masses of men moved along towards the Statue from the direction of the new Club is not likely to be soon forgotten by those who witnessed it. Larger bodios of troops have doubtloas been witnessed else- where, but this was the largest parade evor assembled in Hongkong, and the varied and picturesque uniforms combined to add to the splendour of the spectacle. For the time being the squalor of the Chinese was obliterated. In the Grand Stand, the some- what sombre dress of the civilian commu- nity obtained colour from the few uniforms sprinkled about, and the Consular Corps, with their gaudy decorations, presented a veritable blaze of colour in the vicinity of the platform, Wherever one looked, no- thing was to be seen but one huge sea of living faces. Every coign of vantage was occupied. From every vorandah the pro- ceedings were watched by interested on- lookers; even the unfinished edifice which is to be the new babitat of the Hongkong Club was covered by Chinose, who, sat- like, crawled and squirmed from place to place wherever they thought the best view might be obtainable.
The following was the order of the march-
past:-
Royal Navy, commanded by Commander W. F. Tunnard, H.M.Š. Victor Emanuel,
Royal Marine Light Infantry, commanded by Capt. Trottman. Major Thomas, D.A. A.G.b., and Capt. Hunt, Acting A.D. C. to Colonel Austey.
Lieut. Colonel The O'Gorman, D.A‚A.G.a., and Major Hanham, C.R.A. Royal Artillery, commanded by Capt. Burney.
Royal Engineers, commanded by Capt. Carey.
Hongkong Regiment, commanded by Major Retallick.
Rifle Brigade, commanded by Major the Hon. E. Noel.
With almost incredible expedition the bands of the Rifle Brigade and the Hong- kong Regiment had taken up a position on
the
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