THE DEPARTURE OF THE HON. J. U. STEWART LOCKHART.
Following the presentation of the address by the Chinese College of Medicine in the Legislative Council Chamber on Friday afternoon, the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart was on Saturday forenoon made the recipient of addresses from the Chinese community and the Civil Service and in the evening entertained at a banquet given in the City Hall by the Chinese community.
ADDRESS FROM CHINESE COMMUNITY.
At eleven o'clock on Saturday forenoon a great number of Chinese merchants and others assembled in the City Hall to bid farewell to Mr. Lockhart, and present him with an address. The Hon. Wei A Yak presided, and was supported by the Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Mr. Fung Wah Chun, Mr. Lau Chu Pak, Mr. Ho Tung, and others. Mr. Lockhart was accompanied by Mrs. Lockhart, Miss Hancock, and Mrs. Saunders.
Dr. HO KAI said—Mr. Lockhart, on behalf of the Chinese community of Hongkong, I have the honour to present you with an address which I will ask you to be kind enough to accept as a small token of their respect, esteem and affection. When the news of your high appointment to Weihaiwei first reached this Colony, none rejoiced more than your Chinese friends, but very soon, however, a feeling of impending loss caused a great shadow to fall over their gladness as they began to realise that ere long they would be forced to part with one whom as an official they are accustomed to treat with respect, and as a friend to regard with affection. The severance of your long connection with Hongkong by your imminent departure therefrom has caused among the Chinese a general feeling of regret, and it is only to a certain extent lessened by the knowledge that you will not be so far away after all, and that you will be chiefly engaged in governing and promoting the welfare of their countrymen in the northern colony. They were also sustained by the hope that some day not very distant, His Majesty the King may be pleased to send you back to Hongkong to occupy the most exalted position in the government of this Colony. (Applause.) Now, sir, we have to bid you farewell, and in so doing we cannot help recalling the past twenty years in which you have been serving the Colony so well and so successfully.
In 1882, I think it was, sir, you returned from Canton and found Hongkong in a very depressed condition owing to the collapse of the great land speculation that occurred during the previous year, and you found also an embittered feeling between two important sections of the community. Young as you were then, and although holding a minor position in the Government, you at once began to interest yourself earnestly in the welfare of the Colony and endeavoured to promote a better understanding between the Europeans and Chinese.
For a very few years only did you hold the office of Assistant Colonial Secretary, as your distinguished ability and profound knowledge of Chinese secured you a speedy promotion to the important post of Registrar-General, where you came into close and frequent contact with the Chinese community. It was in this office that the Chinese came directly under your inspiring influence, and it was in the discharge of your duties as Registrar-General and Protector of Chinese that they received so much benefit from your hands. The period of your tenure of this office was marked by great progress among the Chinese and by the adoption of more effective measures for the preservation of order and peace among them. Our leading Chinese citizens, who had hitherto been more or less apathetic to public affairs, came forward in comparatively large numbers and took a keener and more active interest in matters affecting the public weal. They accorded the Government heartier co-operation and support. They gave largely to the various local charitable institutions and took a more active part in their management. You, sir, who reorganised the present District Watchmen force and obtained the appointment of twelve representative Chinese gentlemen as a supervising committee and as an advisory board to the Government. It was you, sir, who remodelled the Po Leung Kuk and placed it in its present permanent and satisfactory position. The noteworthy improvements in the Tung Wah Hospital, which have been effected without in any way interfering with the management by the Chinese, are largely due to you, and all the free hospitals that have been established principally for the treatment of sick Chinese, such as the Alice Memorial and Nethersole Hospitals, have had your unremitting and energetic support. You have taken a large share in the suppression of the Triad and other secret societies. You have quietly but effectively and without bloodshed settled many a strike and quelled many a riot caused by the coolie and labouring classes. During the last seven years you have held the office of Colonial Secretary and that of Registrar-General combined, and although your official duties were thus multiplied to an onerous degree, you have never neglected the welfare of the Chinese. On the contrary, you have proved to them that however much you may have been occupied with other duties, you have always had a spare moment to devote to their interests. Finally, as Commissioner of the New Territory you have been successful in establishing order and in bringing to its large native population peace and good government. (Applause.) The Chinese community appreciate fully your kindness to them, and they are most thankful for your solicitude for their welfare. The presentation of this address is a humble and grateful acknowledgement of the many benefits which, in serving your Government faithfully and well, you have been enabled to bestow upon them. In presenting this address, I, sir, cannot help referring to your helpmate, Mrs. Lockhart. Most of us here have received ...