1841-1886
PAPERS RELATING TO
Central School or Victoria College is much needed, and will provide accommodations for at least 700 students.
18. In connexion with this subject the Government proposes, with your concurrence, to follow the precedent of other colonies by sending, in alternate years, in accordance with regulations which will be submitted to you, two of the most promising students of our chief colleges, selected by competitive examination, to complete their professional education in England, especially in Law, Medicine, and Civil Engineering.
19. Those minor posts in the public service which are at the disposal of the Governor, were wisely thrown open by my predecessor to competitive examination, without distinction of race or creed. A much needed stimulus has thus been given to general education, while the Government will secure a constant supply of eligible candidates for the several Departments.
20. A report will be laid before you showing the considerable progress already made in the afforestation of this Colony. I have directed the introduction of several thousand plants of the Australian Eucalyptus, a tree which furnishes valuable timber, and also exercises a marked sanitary influence, as experience in many tropical and semi-tropical countries has amply proved.
21. You will perceive from papers on the table that it has been necessary to procure a new supply of arms for the police; for the care of which, and for the proper drill and instruction of the corps, you have already made provision.
22. The Imperial Government, on my recommendation, has presented a full equipment of guns and rifles to the Hong Kong Volunteer Artillery; which body it is hoped will furnish a valuable addition to the numerical strength of the garrison.
23. I have represented to the Imperial Government in strong terms the necessity of completing the fortifications of this important naval and military station and mart of commerce. Without referring to the value of the other and manifold interests, both Imperial and Colonial, which are at stake, I
may remind you that official statistics show that the tonnage of the shipping entered at the port of Hong Kong in the year, 1883 exceeded 5,000,000 tons; that is, it exceeded the tonnage of the shipping entered at the port of London in 1843, the year in which Hong Kong was annexed to the British Crown, at a period when this island was little more than a barren rock, uninhabited save by a few Chinese pirates and fishermen.
24. I have now, honourable gentlemen, referred to the principal subjects which will be submitted for your consideration during the present session. Governors and Legislatures should speak by their actions; and it is my confident hope that our united efforts will, by the blessing of Divine Providence, promote the general welfare and prosperity of all races and classes in this Colony.
G. F. BOWEN.
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