1941-01-20 — Page 70

CHINA MAIL, PAGE 22

1841

HONG KONG CENTENARY NUMBER

Centenary Messages

Sir Atholl MacGregor THIS MONTH

HONG KONG CELEBRATES THE COM. PLETION OF A CENTURY UN- DER BRITISH RULE.

LET US RESOLVE TO MAKE THE COMING YEARS, OF TRUE PROGRESS AND PROS- PERITY. TO MAKE HONG KONG A BETTER PLACE, TO OVERCOME THE BARRIERS OF CASTE, PREJUDICE AND PRI VILEGE. TO ABOLISH OUR SLUMS AND ΤΟ ESTABLISH JUSTICE. HEALTH, HAPPI NESS AND CONTENTMENT FOR ALL IN THIS BEAUTIFUL COLONY.

ATROLL MacGrreon.

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The Hon. Mr.

M. K. Lo

S the oldest newspaper in Hong AS

Kong the "China Mail" can justly claim an association with the Colony longer in time, und richer in historicity, than any of its contempories. Indeed, found- ed in 1845, its records cover period practically coterminous with the Colony's history.

I feel sure, therefore, that the "China Mail" Centenary Supple- ment will be a most interesting survey and record of the wonder- ful

thanks progress which,

to Sino-British cooperation, the Co- lony has made during the last century. As one rather striking pointer of that progress, I may mention that even as recent as the beginning of the century, the re- venue of the Colony was under 1wo and three-quarter million

with

the dollars, as compared Colony's estimated revenue for the financial

1941-42 of nearly fifty-five million!

your

But, as we turn our thoughts to the Colony's Centenary, I venture to suggest that, rather than being too complacent with the Colony's achievements in the past, we should concentrate on what should do in the discharge of our duty to the present, and to pos- terity. Our actions will form part of the future history of the Colony.

we

Can we be 'content with the prevalence of squalor and abject poverty of the masses; of slums; of Jack, or inadequacy, of social ser- vices, such as hospitals, saha- toriums, workmen compensation, Industrial insurance; etc? Above all, in the midst of the Democra- cies' life struggles to determine the future and fate of civilisation, are we quite satisfied that we have each of us made our maximum contribution to the cause of Bri- tain and China? By our actions, which constitute the joint effort of the Colony, are we sure that historians of the future will have no ground for expressing dis- appointment with the part taken by Hong Kong in these critical days?

SO

In reviewing the history of the Colony perhaps one of the most remarkable facts on which we can rejoice is that freedom of thought, and freedom of expression of opinion, which, having been ruthlessly suppressed in so many parts of the world, still exist in Hong Kong. The power of a free and well-informed press in guld- ing public opinion and rousing public conscience is indeed great.

The "China Mall", as the re- vered pioneer newspaper of the Colony, has always taken an im- portant role in stimulating public opinion, and I wish it continued

success.

M. K. Lo.

Have We Done All We Could?

TO-DAY Hong Kong attains its Centenary. When half of the world is being battered by guns and bombs and the other half is living under the shadow of the sword, this is no time for cejc- bration, and much less for rejoicing. But at this important mile- stone, we may be permitted to look back on the long road that has been traversed, and to gaze forward on the longer road ahead of us.

In the one hundred years that have passed, Hong Kong, from being a sparsely-inhabited rock, has reached its present command- ing position as a commercial, shipping, distributing and financial port, and is also rapidly becoming an important industrial centre. Its remarkable progress is the fruit of the combined enterprise and the genius of the British and the Chinese, Never before has that collaboration been more necessary than it is to-day, for upon it will depend not only the future of Hong Kong itself but also the welfare of these two great nations. Hong Kong is a small place, nevertheless, the English and the Chinese here have their part, and an important part, to play in their countries' fight against aggression and in upholding the standard of freedom and justice, Let us, the Chinese residents in Hong Kong, ask ourselves whether, in this hour of their dire need, we have done all we could for our country, and for the country which has given us here one hundred years of security and peace. Let us also ask ourselves whether we have done enough to relieve or minimise the sufferings of our com- patriots in China and of our friends in England, who daily, and every hour of the day, are facing unprecedented perils with such heroic fortitude. I fear that our conscience will tell us that we have fallen short of what is an imperative duty. Let us, then, hearken to this call of duty, and discharge it, to the limit of our capacity, to Hong Kong, to China and to Britain. In this way we may make a real contribution to the prodigious and determined efforts of the United States of America, Britain and China to stamp out for ever terrorisation, aggression and tyranny, and to restore to mankind the blessings of peace and ordered liberty.

On behalf of the Chinese community I tender to the Govern- ment of Hong Kong our best wishes for the future of the Colony, and our assurance of loyalty and continued cooperation in all acti- vilies conducing to its well-being.

The Attorney General

|| AM GLAD TO HAVE THE OP- PORTUNITY OF BEING PRE-

SENT IN THE COLONY AT THE

TIME OF ITS CENTENARY

HAVING, AS ONE OF ITS OLD- EST RESIDENTS, KNOWN IT

AND SEEN ITS DEVELOPMENT FOR MORE THAN HALF OF THAT PERIOD.

EX-

RES-

MY MEMORIES OF IT TEND BACK AS FAR AS 1886 WHEN I ARRIVED, AT THE AGE OF SIX, BY COASTAL STEAM- ER FROM SHANGHAI, IF 1 MAY PRAY IN AID THE TRANSMIT- TED MEMORIES .OF MY FATHER AND GRANDFATHER, WHO ARRIVED FROM ENG- LAND AND AMERICA PECTIVELY BY SAILING SHIPS IN 1855 AND 1843 THOSE MEM. ORIES COVER VERY NEARLY THE WHOLE PERIOD OF IT'S GROWTH, DUE LARGELY TO THE ENTERPRISE AND CO. OPERATION OF THE PEOPLES OF ALL RACES AND CREEDS WHO HAVE SETTLED OR So. JOURNED IN IT DURING THE PAST CENTURY. LONG MAY SUCH ENTERPRISE AND CO- OPERATION PERSIST.

CHALONER GRENVILLE ALABASTER.

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你

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Bishop Valtorta

THE progress of Hong Kong

during the past hundred years

is a credit to those responsible for it and a triumph of inter-racial cooperation. May we hope that the social progress of the years 'that are to come will be as grênt as the material progress of the past, and that in its cure for the poor and the afflicted Hong Kong will win a reputation equal to that gained by its trade and commerce,

HENRY VALTORTA.

R. H. KOTEWALL,

Sir Shouson Chow

On the occasion of Hong Kong's Centenary I have been asked to give a short message to the people of the Colony, a task which I undertake with the greatest po5- sible pleasure, for not only am I one of the oldest, residents, but Hong Kong is my birthplace, and I have watched its growth

and development with profound ad- iniration.

A century of sound administra- tion, enterprise and hard work has converted this once barren island into one of the greatest shipping and commercial centres of the For East. It is not unfitting that on an occasion like this we should pay tribute to those of our ances- tors and others who have made Hong Kong what it is to-day.

Hong Kong has a bright future before her, and it is our duty to strive for her further development and prosperity. May we, there- fore, look ahead with confidence In the future, and faith in our- selves.

•

Shouson Chow.

Mr. E. Cock

During the twenty years I have lived in Hong Kong I have wit- nessed many changes and always I have been impressed by what has been done by the proper co- operation of the British and the Chinese.

In my own business affairs, Ï have grown to know and to es- teem a large number of Chinese technicians and craftsmen, to ad- mire their skill, their endurance and: their indépentience.

These are some of the things for the exercise or preservation of which our Countries 'arè éh- gaged in terrible struggles.

May what is right be pre- served, prosper and increase in the centuries to come.

E. COCK.

Hon. Mr. R. A. C. North

A

FOR HUNDRED YEARS

HONG KONG HAS BEEN A MEETING PLACE FOR TWO GREAT AND ANCIENT CIVILI- SATIONS. DURING THAT PER- IOD THEIR CONTACT HAS SERVED TO SPREAD KNOW- LEDGE WHICH. IF RIGHTLY USED, CAN ADD IMMENSELY TO THE WELFARE AND PROS- PERITY OF ALL NATIONS.

IS IT TOO MUCH TO HOPE THAT THE COMING CENTURY WILL SEE EAST AND WEST COMBINE TO DISCOVER AND TO TEACH ONE ANOTHER HOW THAT KNOWLEDGE CAN BEST ATTAIN ITS PROPER PURPOSE?

R. A. C. NORTH.

10

Hon. Mr. T. N. Chau

THE phenomenal rise of Hong

Kong within a hundred years from a sparsely-inhabited island to a world port of the first impor- tance with a huge population, is a striking monument to the close cooperation between the British this and Chinese peoples during period. This cooperative spirit, so

is evident in the past,

doubly necessary at present when both these peoples, believing in orderly progress and freedom to fulfi their destinies, are each engaged in a grim struggle against ruthless aggression. I strongly advocate ever-increasing cooperation not only along materialistic lines but also in the whole-hearted develop- ment of our educational, cultural and social services to alleviate the deplorable lot of the masses in our midst.

T. N. CHAU.

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Sir Vandeleur Grayburn

WE OWE IT ΤΟ THOSE FIRST WHOSE FORESIGHT SAW THE POSSIBILITIES OF HONG KONG AND ITS IMPOR- TANCE TO THE BRITISH EM. PIRE TO SEE THAT THEIR GOOD WORK IS CARRIED ON THROUGH THE COMING YEARS. ONLY BY THE CON - CERTED

ALL EFFORTS OF SECTIONS OF THE COM MUNITY CAN THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS SHOW GREATER PROGRESS.

V. M. GRAYBURN.

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Hon. Mr. Li Shu-fan

It has been said that one reason why Hong Kong was readily deded to Great Britain was be- cause the Empress Dowager of China thought it was an insigni- ficant island, no bigger than a fly's head In the

of vast map China.

From this 'Insignificant island' there soon emerged two of the world's greatest teacher, a great benefactor of mankind, universally known as the Father of Tropical Medicine, the immbrtat Sir Patrick Mahson. The other his pupil, emancipatör of one-fifth of mankind, one of the greatest champions for the cause of Democracy, and Founder of the Chinese Republic, the deathless Dr. Sun Yat-sen.

men -

one a

Since the dawn of this era in East Asia, Hong Kong has shed forth its light as the great békcón of Western learning and British culture.

From this acorn in the vast map of China has sprung up a sturdy oak, a stronghold of goodwill, a haven in many ʼn blinding storm." After a century of its edifying in- fluence, China has progrossed a 'thousand years.

LI SHU-FAN.

1941