Goverment House, 19 AUG 1902?
Hongkong, 15th July, 1902.
Sir,
With reference to paragraph 4 of my Despatch No. 275 of the 30th ultimo, in which I informed you that at a special meeting of the Executive and Legislative Councils held on the 25th ultimo, it was unanimously decided to abandon practically all the local festivities which had been arranged in honour of His Majesty's Coronation, I have the honour to inform you that after several reassuring messages had been received with regard to the King's health and His steady progress towards convalescence, it was suggested to me that the time might not be altogether inopportune for transmitting to His Majesty some tangible token of devotion to His Throne and Person which animate all His Majesty's subjects in this Colony.
2.
For several months previous to the date arranged for the Coronation, a Committee appointed by myself had been employed not only in arranging for a fitting local celebration of so memorable an occasion, but also in preparing loyal Addresses to His Majesty the King. These Addresses, and the caskets in which they were placed, were, as I am aware from personal observation, the result of much selection and deliberation and the exercise of great care on the part of
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,