1941-01-20 — Page 124

CHINA MAIL, PAGE 76

1841

KONG KONG CENTENARY NUMBER

ต

Then---And

THREE years ago a visitor of im-

passed

through

portance Hong Kong. Before he relinquish- ed his responsible position in the Colony in 1927 he was identified industrial concerns with several

and at Kowloon. in Hong Kong When the gentleman was passing through on his way to Shanghai, a former associate in business und the writer accompanied the visitor on a round of Kowloon, which he had last seen more than ten years before. Stopping in front of a sea reclamation that had just been finished and the trenches for the foundation for a large workshop

man think

that were being dug, the gentle- was asked: "What do you transformation?" of this Transformation! Why transfor- mation?" he asked. "This is crea- tion," he added. Creation, indeed, since the reclamation of the shore-line of that particular point of Kowloon represented no less than six acres of flat land badly needed for extension of ground to provide for an essential utility establishment on the mainland.

The exclamatory remark just quoted, in answer

friendly question, typifies every stage of the phenomenul growth of the 1s- land of Hong Kong during the past hundred years of its existence as a British settlement and of eighty- two years of Kowloon since its cession for inclusion as a depen- dency of the Colony of Houg Kong in 1858.

10

The visitor just referred to said he had travelled extensively since leaving Hong Kong, through Japan, America, and Europe. He had seen many and

China,

great changes,

striking

but nothing 80

on so extensive a

reale as at Kowloon.

Early History

The Island was ceded to Great Britain in 1841. On 20th January of that year

Captain Elliot, Her

in

Majesty's Plenipotentiary, an- nounced "the conclusion of pre- liminary arrangements between the Imperial commissioner

and himself involving the cession of the island and harbour of Hong Kong to the British Crown." On the question of the policy of the "open door," which is such ú thorny problem these days, the B.itish Plenipotentiary declared that: "Her Majesty's Government has sought for no privilege China exclusively for the advan- lage of British ships and mer- chants," and he assured" the pro- tection of the British flag to the subjects, citizens and ships of foreign Powers that may resort to Her Majesty's possession." Hong Kong was formally occupied on the 26th, and on the 29th another proclamation by Captain Elliot declared that Chinese resorting to Hong Kong "shall be governed according to the laws and customs of China, every description

orture excepted." The following proclamation of the 1st February declared "the Chinese residents of Hong Kong to be subjects of the British Crown," So much in brief is the historical record accom- panying the cession which laid the foundations of the Colony of Hong Kong

of

First Population Compare the estimated million and a hit-inhabitants of Hong" Kong on its attaining the first hundred years of its existence as a British colony with the 7,500 in- habitants said to have been found on the Island when possession was first taken. It sounds like a fairy tale. That small number of in- habitants was scattered over twenty fishing hamlets and vil- lages. Activity in road and house-

building later increased the num- ber

in of inhabitants to 12,361 March 1842. Two years after-in April 1844-there was on the Is- lond more than double the popu- lation in the first year. the num- ber was given as 19,000. Or that number it was said that not even five per cent. were women and children.

London Times On Hong Kong

in.

At no time in favour of the re- tention of Hong Kong, a writer in the "Thunderer" of the British metropolis on the 17th Decem- ber, 1844, described the com- munity here at that time AS "migratory, property most secure, and life often in danger from the bands of piratical rob- bers that infest this and the neigh- bouring islands." Then he went on to say: "The place has nothing to recommend it, if we except the excellent harbour. The site of the Victoria-named town of after Queen Victoria the Good-is being most objectionable, there scarcely level ground enough for and the the requisite buildings,

new

high hills, which overhang the locality, shut out the southerly winds, and render the place ex- ceedingly hot, close healthy."

and un-

severe

Obviously the "Times" critic was no engineer by profession. No fewer than four major foreshore reclamations un

Now

Reminiscences

-By

J. P. BRAGA

ground, including the ground for the Polo Club now transferred to Kowloon. The fourth reclamation was quite a large one, embracing the whole of Wanchai Bay from East Point to the Naval Depot in Arsenal Street. Yet another re- clamation was mooted at the time of the investigations conducted on the industries and economic re- Sources of the Colony under the auspices of the Imperial Indus- tries Commission The late Sir Paul Chater suggested the clamation of the extreme western end of the Island at Kennedy

the

never project Town; but emerged beyond the proposal stage.

Governors And Administrators

re-

During the hundred years of

the Colony's existence there have been 60 Governors and 64 Officers Government, Administering the Before Sir Henry Pottinger, G.C.B., was appointed as the first Governor on the 26th June, 1843, ad- his predecessors ranked as

An excellent aerial plcture of Hong Kong to-day, showing Victoria and Kowloon, in the foreground.

the southern side of the "excellent harbour" have since provided the "level ground,” the scarcity of which was at first the Colony's greatest deficiency.

an

In order of time, four large re- clamation schemes were carried oul, first, by filling in the sea giv- ing flat ground for commercial buildings with a frontage extend- ing from the Wellington parade ground to opposite the recently constructed Windsor House. Messrs. Wm. Forbes & Co., American firm, who were Messrs. Shewan, Tomes & Co.'s predeces- sors, occupied a large three-storey building on the ground of which Exchange Building stands to-day. This particular piece of land and its old building has a fairly long history, the property, changing hands a number of times at ever increasing prices until it

was finally re-purchased by Messrs. Lane, Crawford & Co.

The second and the largest re- clamation scheme, to be under- taken was commenced on the oc- casion of the visit of the Duke of Connaught. The memorial corner- stone was laid by His Royal High- ness on the north-eastern corner of the Cricket Club ground. The Causeway Bay reclamation In shallow water was comparatively easy, and the land so reclaimed was set apart for a recreation

ministrators. The first on the list of administrators was Captain Charles Elliot, R.N., appointed on 28th January, 1841, and the last is Lieut.-General E. F. Norton, C.M.G., the present administrator in the absence, on sick leave, of H.E. Sir Geoffry Northcote, K.C.M.G.

Brilliant Governors

Two men

commenced their careers in the Colony as Cadets iu and rose, after promotions Hong Kong and abroad, to gover- norships in the Colony. They are: Sir Francis Henry May, K.C.M.G., LL.D., and Sir Cecil Clementi, G.C.M.G., LL.D. There is much similarity in both. Both distin- guished themselves in their scholastic careers; both were mar- ried in Hong Kong; and it is well known that their attachment to the Colony was no passing fancy. In welcoming Sir Henry on his re- turn to assume the governorship of the Colony on 4th July, 1912, the "South China Morning Post" of that date wrote: "The railway en- terprise, prospective developments in the New Territories, the Uni- versity of Hong Kong: ... and a host of other pressing considera- tions demand at the head of uf- fairs one who possesses an in- "timate acquaintance with the ad- ministration and in this respect

Sir Henry May has perhaps no equal."

Like his predecessor, Sir Henry, Sir Cecil Clementi was a gover- nor of great scholarly attainments. Chinese His knowledge of the language, Chinese history, cus- toms, and literature gave him an understanding of the Chinese in- habitants of Hong Kong whom he was called upon to govern at a time of extreme tension which, huppily, he was eminently fitted to remove. Through his know- ledge, tact, judgment and discre- tion he was able to restore good and friendly relations with the Government of the neighbouring Province.

Sir Cecil's stand Two acts of out in his administration with an originality unknown in the record of the long list of his predecessors, The first was the breaking away from old-time custom in his in- vitation to Marshal Li Chai-sum, Governor-General of Kwangtung, and Madame Li to be guests of Sir Cecil and Lady Clementi at Gov- ernment House, when Marshal Li made his first formal visit to Hong Kong. This statesmanlike act won for him much admiration, which he richly deserved.

In 1929 Sir Cecil obtained the consent of the Secretary of State for the Colonies to widen the con- stitution of the Legislative Council by the increase of two official and

One of two unofficial members. the unofficials

1 appointed was Portuguese, born in Hong Kong, who has resided here for seventy years, This gratifying appointment of a member of the Portuguese community to the Council was without precedent.

other member was a Chinese, Kowloon rejoiced in the fact that both ap- pointees were residents of the Peninsula.

The

Sir James Cantlie

The fact is too well known to require stressing here that the College of Medicine for Chinese was the fore-runner of the Uni- versity of Hong Kong. Dr. James Cantlie was the fons et origo of the College. His son relates in his biography of Sir James Cantlie that his father conceived the idea on the voyage out from England. The young doctor reflected how he could lessen the regret he felt at giving up teaching, and "the Col- lege of Medicine for the Chinese was the result." The next step, the book relates, was to enlist the support of the public. To this end a public meeting was convened in the City Hall on October 1, 1887. The meeting was largely attended, and Sir Patrick Manson delivered an inspiring address, after which Major-General Cameron, C.B., the Officer Administering the Govern- ment who presided, promoted the new venture by placing the Col-- lege, under the auspices Government of the Colony.

The Chinese students were carefully selected, and seven-in- cluding Dr. Sun Yat-sen, who be¬ came the Father of the Chinese Republic-entered the College on its, inauguration. Public-spirited men in the Colony gave scholar- ships and prizes, and the list of prize-winners for the first session (1887-1888) contains the name of a student, Sun Yat-sen, who guin- ed several distinctions. He re- celved the Watson Scholarship, was first in chemistry, minor`sur- gery, and clinical observation, and second in botany, physics, and physiology.

of the

"July 23, 1892, may well ba called a day of triumph," - Dr. Cantlle's wife wrote: "Hamish's great day for the College of Medi- cine for the Chinese, presenting of licences to practise by the Gover

(Continued on Page 78.)

1941