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Hongkong, but I have got many ideas about what Hongkong will be in the future, and I cannot help thinking myself that Kowloon will some day very shortly surprise everybody by the extraordinary strides it will make. I think you, Mr. Ho Tung, yourself in the speech you made at the laying of the foundation stone, referred to Kowloon as a suburb of Hongkong. Well, it has been a beautiful suburb of Hongkong. It still is a very pretty suburb of Hongkong, but I cannot help thinking that in the near future, before very many years, anybody coming to describe Kowloon will talk about it as the workshop of Hongkong. I think it is impossible not to see how these strides will go in Kowloon, and therefore I think that a gift of this kind, which will increase the educational facilities of the residents of Kowloon, is an enormous boon to those residents.
I congratulate you also, Mr. Ho Tung, on the choice of the headmaster, Mr. James. As was said by Mr. Pearce, Mr. James is no stranger to Hongkong. But from what I know, and from all I hear of him, I fancy that we have got a most excellent man to do the work that is set before him, and I also hope that that work will not be uncongenial to him. When Mr. James left Hongkong to take up another appointment he left the Colony alone. He has returned to the Colony with Mrs. James, and I venture to say from what I know and from what I hear of Mrs. James, that she will be a fitting helpmate to him in the work that lies before them both. I think we are very fortunate indeed in having secured both their services in this excellent public school. (Applause.)
Ladies and gentlemen, I do not propose to detain you very much longer. I will only say this. I think anybody who sees, as we all see here, the enormous strides that are being made every day in this Colony, will recognise that of all things we should keep pace with these strides in the matter of education. I certainly am strongly in favour of giving all possible facilities for education. When one finds the number of people that come to Hongkong and Kowloon increasing, one must feel that these must bring with them a number of parents whose children are growing up in Hongkong; and the boon that it will be to those parents to get education for their children on the spot—it is impossible almost to say how great that boon will be.
Well, if you agree with me that we have every reason to be grateful to Mr. Ho Tung for his munificent present, your way of showing your gratitude will be by patronising thoroughly the school, by giving it every chance of success; and as I prophesy that before many years are out this school, as it appears to us to-day, will scarcely be sufficient for the wants of Kowloon, I need only say that the record of Mr. Ho Tung's generosity will find others equally liberal-minded and equally generous with himself to follow in his footsteps, and, if occasion requires, to make equally munificent and practical bequests. (Applause.) Ladies and gentlemen, I would like now, if I may, to lead you up to the school so as to declare it formally open. (Applause.)
The company then walked up to the door of the school, and His Excellency performed the ceremony of unlocking it and declaring the school open, the consummation of the ceremonial being greeted with cheers.
Cake and wine were afterwards served in the large classroom, which was decorated for the occasion. Here,
HIS EXCELLENCY proposed the toast of prosperity to the school and the health of Mr. Ho Tung in the words—I drink prosperity to the school and also the health and prosperity of its giver, Mr. Ho Tung.
The toast was duly honoured.
Mr. Ho Tung in reply said—Your Excellency, I thank you most heartily for the honour you have done me in proposing the toast of my health, and you, ladies and gentlemen, for the kind manner in which you have received it. I trust that the school will prosper and be a boon to the inhabitants of Kowloon. (Applause.)
This concluded the proceedings, and the company afterwards dispersed. A body of Indian police under Sergeant Garrod was present to receive His Excellency General Gascoigne.