1887-1903
HONG KONG, 1902.
21
The 2nd Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers left the command on the 9th November, and were relieved by the Sherwood Foresters. The 22nd Bombay Infantry and the 5th Infantry Hyderabad Contingent left on the 9th August and 20th June, respectively, and were replaced by the 10th Bombay Light Infantry, the 14th Bombay Infantry, and the 33rd Burma Infantry.
(B.) COLONIAL CONTRIBUTION,
The Colony contributed $914,038.83 (being the statutory contribution of 20 per cent. of Revenue) towards the cost of the maintenance of the regular forces in the Colony, and Barrack Services.
(C.) VOLUNTEER CORPS.
The total establishment of the Corps is 400 of all ranks. The strength in 1902 was 274, made up as follows:—Staff, 6; 2 Garrison Artillery companies, 235; 1 Engineer company, 27; and a Band, 6.
The Field Battery, Machine Gun companies, and Infantry company were changed to two Garrison Artillery companies during 1902.
The Expenditure on the Volunteers, which is entirely borne by the Colony, was $21,026.91.
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GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
From 4th January, 1902, to 8th September, 1902, during my absence on leave, Sir W. J. Gascoigne, K.C.M.G., administered the Government.
In April, 1902, Mr. W. M. Goodman was appointed Chief Justice, and towards the close of the year received the honour of Knighthood. Sir Henry Spencer Berkeley, late Chief Justice of Fiji, succeeded him in the Office of Attorney-General. Mr. J. H. Stewart-Lockhart, C.M.G., was appointed Commissioner of Wei-Hai-Wei in April, 1902, and was succeeded as Colonial Secretary by Mr. F. H. May, C.M.G.
The Coronation of His Majesty the King was celebrated in the Colony by a Special Service in the Cathedral, by general illuminations, and by the presentation of loyal addresses.
A statue of His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught—the gift of Sir Paul Chater, C.M.G.—was unveiled on 5th July, 1902, and it was announced on that occasion that the same donor and Mr. J. J. Bell-Irving, intended to present the Colony with statues of His Majesty the King and of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.
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