THE CHINA „MAIL, !' WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1959.
We've gone the full circle
W
Eleft the Governor, Sir Richard Macdonnell, halfway through his speech just after he had laid the foundation stone of the proposed City Hall. To refresh your memory, it is Saturday, February 23, 1867. The Governor and Lady Macdonnell anticipate an excellent luncheon; the Loyal toast and many others will be made.
Sir Richard is in excellent form, for his speech must have taken something like an hour to deliver. But they were prosy days when men were intoxicated only by the brilliance of their own verhosity.
You will recall that we broke off in the middle of Sir Richard's speech because he made so Ineny references to things whien Interet us greatly from this distance of a century, so that a Isttic Investigation concerning the whys and wherefores of his reforences Is worthwhile,
New Sir Richard Mardonnell, Governor of Hongkong, goes on with his piech. Hemember there is no amplifter, and 12 speaks to a considerable crowd. There is a friendliness about his address, a closer lie-up with the people, yet nu unecrtoln ap- preciation of rnak and 11: privileges:-
adjectives are mattered, and his reperlatives squandered with the abandon of ʼn drunken anilor pruttering six months'
pay. 1 w
conlinur Ira reported
specchi,
Speaking of the completed City Holt, Sir Richard continues: "It would comprise pt once the means of meeting and satisfying adequately long existing wants, There would be space and room for a large library, a muscum, Chamber of Connierce, a holl for public assemblies, a ball - rom, supyter room, and а theatre, all under one roof."
The Union Church, photographed in the nineties standing in a wooded area now completely built
over.
The history of the illustrious Due was su closely interwoven with, and formed so large a portion of the history of France which the Orleans family loved above all things.
(I can't
JOHN LUFF
the
the be
In conclusion he invited them. to join him in the hope that the steady and reliable spirit which had brought the Colony through the depression would endure as long na the foundation stone he had just laid.
He asked them all to raise their glasses in the toast, "Prosperity to the City Hall of Victoria."
help laughing at seem to flourish mere profusely that. The Governor and all the overseas. He said that they cummunity
gathered arc
to could not expect
୯୯ celebrate an important event in lended ballroom would the Ble of Hongkong when Sir free from tone of the jealousies Richard is reminded of some- a rivirics which lend them- iling infinitely more important: solves more than a mere laterest The races at Happy Valley! Nor to special guletles, but they does the community regard his might with at least a happy and ecmments on the awful disgrace fortunate ending to all such tuffered by losing the Challenge tender episodes, Cup to Shanghai, out of place at such a time. But what does the Hoyal visitor of Orleans, and M. Hermite think about it? The mnd British, come to some cul turol achievement; but the moment horse racing a men- tioned, the City Hall la forgot- ten, and sighs and groans and determined cheers split the
when akcy mn sorely tempted to point Hongkong out that certain leading powers Governor deßes Shanghai to Hft might to their own profit, study the Challenge Cup again),
British in this genius of the bonducting their affairs),
"They must not forgel, how- (It would be interesting ever, another gentleman, but for some readers would inform me whose business-like optitudo if they share the opinion that and persevering energy they At this stage, Sle Richard
Sir Richard was skating on thin could not have pursued the im- poltted to rome platy suspendel
ico there. Napoleon III had yet portant undertaking of that day" on the wall of the temporary
Richard referred to Mr another eighteen months on the of circunstances had rendered building which had housed the French throne before
the Renale, their Chairman, (Loud the last two years disanirous
neetestry praphernalia the
disuster of Sedan wept the cheers), and depressing to the com- day's sinn. He continued:
Bonapartes from France, The mercial interesis of the com- "The rehcet had not shrank
Froms 10 ex- mmunity, and though The
from criticism, and he thought Governer here general trade silli existed and they would all agree that the
press un association with the Legitlinates, the Orleans family extending, or rather plans exhibited that rare gift. against the pretender Bonaparte Renale's
"They were so indebted to Mr
that exertions so often fail to its family. My point is here we thought it must Jenks,
add to their yet, passter." (Sir Richard did a.1
have a high placed Servant of regret that Mr Rennie had not neverthelosa, Individuals had say why, but as a phrase it has
expressing suffered and a great mercan- rhetorical flourish).
an en mere fortunate during the opinion concerning the internal last week's races." (Laughter). tile depresslust had resulted.
affates of foreign power). UGO had been "The year partienderly unhealthy, thought exceptis circumstances Justify the absurd, opinion entrtained in England of the cliente ture, and writers would have "The Times' 1+1 found their statements plensant- ly refuted if they could have pasted the last few months here, and enjoyed a climate preferable In many respects to thine of London winter. (Hear, hear).
វ៉ាវ ។
He speaks on trade. Hong- kong bad bern hit by a dr pression: MEL Initiat fa admitted that a combination
WAB
might be regarded as almost in
infancy
AN
"Then again 1 was. bun recently that the explosion of their powder depot hird sbak.n their walls und nerves,"
(The explosion to which Sir Richard Maedonuri re- fered occurred on Januar 17, 1807, when a hulk in the harbour blew up).
"Yet with so much to depress, on this very day the community, unaided by Government or y anything dise but enduring pluck and self reliance, hud witnessed the laying of the foundation stone of the largest and most costly edilice yet al- is mipled lo be tabef in this part of the world. (Hear, hear}
That was a good practical refutation of Hongkong residents having an exodus from the city feasible or desirable.
11
-
But Sir Ichord trusted that in the ease of Monsieur Hermit, genius would prove to be daly source of proft and fame, (Notice that the architect nf the first City Hall x 12 Frenchman, M. Hermite, Ho won the award in open com- petitiou. This accounts for the rather Imposing array of Frenchmen on this oceniton. It also shows that quite cathy the Colony established the international liberal content, which is a source of delight and of certain self-zailsfaction in the British Colony today Sir Richard went on to ray that he was especially delighted to know that provision had been made for a brary and muscum. "Let them but provide th commodation, and Private mundicence would furnish their shelves with the reful and the
curious,"
In Australin, some years ago, he had been associated with the forming of a Central Museum, as a midium for the instruction of youth. It was suggested by many at the time that the te was glad, however, to learn spire provided was too large.
thing the South Australian Government was being pressed be demands for more space! So "As for the building, the Dra It would be good it with the stone of which I have had the pissing of tims such a situation honour to lay, I do not hesitate
Greutred with reference to say that, if completed, there Hongkong's library and museum, will not be, with three or four exceptions the utmost, any Entertaining. as he did, A edifice in Her Majesty's Colonies, very high upinion of the
In
to commodious and so thoreagh architect, M. Hermite, who hat
adapted to its intended · ob- ` designed the City Hall, 50 jeels, not che inore elegant in worthy of the place, and as its design."
graceful as it was massive, he With due apologies to the jos vertain that his listeners shade of Sir Richard Macdonnell, felt, as he fell, that the day was I feel bls speech has arrived at also singularly honoured by the that stage where a champagne presence of His Royal Highness,
speaking on his behalf. His the 200 de penuntevre,“
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"Like the Hongkonu residents in general. Mr Rennie had to endure the spectacle of seeing Sir Richard continues: "His at the gooni prizes going up
11 Hoot north in Shanghai." Hoyal Highness, as
Sir Richard hoped that their Frenchman, could not but feel gratißed at the compliment pald defeat would only spur them on In this distant part of the world to future victories, and as they to his countymen, and would laid the foundation stone of their see that the British were im- new City Hall, during the days parilal enough to seleet from all of denréeslan, so in the next competitors French taste and year they would lay their plans French
nbility when they to retain the next Challenge acserved it." (Loud chears). Cup at Hongkong. -
The former Hongkong and Shanghai Bank building at Queen's Road, demolished. to make room for the present structure, Part of the old fountain opposite the City Hall is seen on the right.
Fortunately, the steady spirit of the Colony endured even longer than the foundation stone FO well and truly lald by Sir Richard Macdonnell, und survived even woray pelbacks stitnin ebareholders, represented Companies, we wish that a Cily by a committee until the bull:- 111 stood again complete with than the tepression of 1805.
The toast to the future was Ing be opened, when it will Theatre Royal, drunk with enthusiasm, the have its entire ownership under crowd gave three hearty cheers, control.
concludes the reporter, and
after spending a short time in conversation, the crowd dis- persed."
At last Sir Richard Macdonnel; gets back to the business of the To conclude and return day. to graver thoughts, he would ask then not to separate without permitting him in their name to Express the hope that the new und beautiful edince which they had that day
commenced, might never be desecrated by the utterance within its walls of any disloyal sentiment from the lips of p British resident. They As the City Hall neared. com- could not, of course, by any pletion, some anxiety was cx- more wish or hope, shape pressed regarding its ownership,
Still, at such a future events.
in that it seemed to be, "more time such wishes and sentiments a publle insitution than the were right ргорст.
people's property. In any free country, in halls
What this ne cistloction where the publle were permitted mean, I do not understand, nor ele, ic express their feeling it was can qute understand why caly natural that expressions of anxiety should have been felt, disagreement would be heard, unless sonicone was trying to They might, however, hope It brig about a typical Hongkong would have its limits, and be coup de theatre. merely the warmth that freedoin generates and vivifies, not the heart of a turbulent licentes which consumia and destroys.
and
The Governor, who seemed to
know Hongkong then remarked upon the human frailties which
The China Mail trien 10 Gieten publie anxiety bu explaining the legal status of the City Itall.
"It is at
moment, as much.
a private building us any other edifice. It is the property of
The picture accompanying the showed who the "When completed, however, first article the owners, in puitsuance of un completed building looked like. agreement entered into, and in For a long time, the library consideration of the site being and museum were both, popular given by the Government, als institutions within the Colony,
the a grant-in-sid, will throw open and Hongkong Amateur to the public, Irrespective of Dramatic Company long used nationality or residence, that the Theatre Royal, but for some the viton of the building devoted reason abandoned it in
twenties as unsuitable, to the library and museum.
The City Hall went on for a few more years, and, theo was "Arrangements for the use of laid low to make way for the the remainder...the theatre... Hongkong.& Shanghai Banking meeting
Unlirooms Corporation's building, which will be readily entered paved the way for Hongkong's into, and the ownership of the new look In multi-storeyed sharehcklers will of course, be buildings. recognized as regards them." Now we have gone the fuit Well, the City Bali dla circle. No trace of the old materialise, and the recent bullding remains. Where It visit of the Duke of Edinburgh stood with its long low graceful recalled that made by a lines, two buildings tower inlə former Duice of Edinburgh, the clouds; ond huge walls of who declared open the old stone conccal the spot where City Hall, inety years ago. once the fountain, presented by Also, following the piiitul Mr Dent, sent its sliver Jets into peregrinations of our Drama the sunlight.
rooms
'Jobs for the family'
sweeps U.S.
BUT
ONE CONGRESSMAN REMAINS UNABASHED: 'I'M NOT APOLOGISING'
WASHINGTON.
WITH a huffing and a puffing and a blowing of steam that threaten to lift the Statue of Liberty off her pedestal, hundreds of politicians who sit in the U.S. Congress are today frantically trying to persuade their voters that they are not half such bad chaps as everyone in America is saying they are.
There has been nothing quite
the first 1ke it in the crmale et cuirited
newsman
I
by ARTHUR BRITTENDEN
15′′
elicsic cry echoed from the baseball ground ot Brooklyn Dravans Wa Wut Bixed hol 3-1,300 10 £4,450, and En
Salaries they have fixed reage way bucket of nearly $12,031 **The trouble has blow Up
through n diligent spotting in the Congressional keco as
Washington that in Representa ¡ve Steven V. Carter had en hin clerical staff a Steven A. Carter who was being paid E11.873
OUT year THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY.
NOT ALONE
OF
"Tutting in much as some of the university processo.s who teach hina,
And meney being passed acrosa Washington clice deeles to secretarial wives in two anti three times greater than average income for all Ameri- in eins-about £1,540' a year.
older hand la shown to have had his wife on his staff since he went into Congresa in 1931.
There
are three more who have chosen a daughter, a sister and mother for posts carrying sela.ies trean officiad Cunda,
Perhaps thinking that numbers it would achlove greater esfety from the públic THE IMPACT viroth. Congress let it by Know that it is handing out
Mr
the
storm
Marilyn, wife of Congressman Leonard G. Wolf, is employed by her husband in his Washington ofce, Cost to the taxpayers: about £4,400 a year.
It needs little imagination to Judge
the Anpact such Azures
a man who hbors them as he la strap-
When a row sets in as fiercelyniony outside as well as inside as this one, it evitably takes America tnexpected turns,
Half a million dollars (nearly £180,000) is reckoned to be While no cre is suggesting what they will use up this year that Peskin Elcenhower or in tripe area.
This mcacy is handed
נד אים
lke has on his White House eixa de a mlitary adviser his son, Major David Eisenhower.
In cos time than it takes cash to 125 relatives of clented twerk out that this is equal to multibers
£4,240 or more than £8 a
But this hoo en.ged the wock the ceporter had found maten still more to the point hanging on the way home from his right-hand man John Foster that Steven Carter is Repre- where the prifticans are now work in a lurching, jam-packed Dulles, Saretary of State, la then trom sentative Caster's
10-year-old topping one another's ankle in wh three or four children who nog, feels that
subway train.
Or on his wife guy of ntpoliam, people retoung Congressmen by US. ian student som
a tush to desert that they cre in self, would have being dreadfully misundete.cod. This,
has to watch every cent when providea duct enough to fire a
she goes shopping at the super- SWIFT SWITCH for weeks to amirnat a NUDILI.
marks, come.
Certor wheat
Bill worse for Congressmen, 6:0:y But it was nothing to the dried it all, has
otkier mcde à
facts about how much revelations now, following, swift awlich of ground. Frcin money they take out of the They are proving too ipfam- claning that his eculium's country's coffers are coming to matcry to be quelled by were right behtud him on giving light, potestations frera Mir Carter, a the highest paid job on his staff newly elosted Democrat from to his son, he has now cut his Idaho, that his boý "does a job son's eritry by half. act bet er thas myself. I
He even holds out hope that I'm he takes chargd of the '--if the burden of work cases-- affics. He decls with my con- he may eventually be able to. Buonis whɔ cene here for a strike his son off the public visit, analocs sure they under- payroll.
FROM FUNDS
a
ם -
The idea of the B was to give themselves en Additonal $14,000
year (£6,000) to hine art cзsiktent."
"nis;rative
Con-
No doubt many of the Ertasmen already had in colad relatives to whom, they were going to harit those plan Jobs.
*il members
10 funde kept for
contassics round the world. Toxpayers' money of course
"If some of the freshmen Then there are the gia which the politicians pick
Comprasemen hadn't been a bit 13.
too swatsh in their eagerness A new Uner which made ita
to get both feet in the public maka run nat long ago took trough" says o political com with 13 Congressmen who Ike's brother, Milton Elsen-
had shipping subshley. All Senator kere, Not that Congress has over Lower,
expenses were met by the ships might have typed up more," Is scnt of as
plz lleo-dar wives ico, Laden these figures. But oni special emissary to visits to
But the expeores of their For: now is America folding a look at Lain America, and in the last Caresmen
stving
lecture nepodem ind heavy...pending then-and being astonished by few days has even been ligged $1,000 (nearly £380). Organisa- for a teng time-tny chance. of aro peld up, to has swept into limbo at least the bill it sees it has to meet.
na possible long-odar bet I a tions which givo For a start a member of the successor this to be found to
then slipping that BHI throëgh, Senate or House of Representa the aling Mr Dulles,
that sort of mocny usually do Only
Contresam tives gots a salary : from © the
so in the hope of faveurs when Representative Clare Hofman Iloe's wille, Mamic, has a they try for Goverment e- o and what I'm. trying to do. But the tinder of publia oul country of $22,500 (£8,033) brother-in-law, Cinel Gordon
appeurs to remain 'unabashed. Sixty-five people applied for ery has been sparked. Today year,' of which nearly Moore, who won given Gove.n
“He has p daughter-in-law ind that job, but not one of them the flames roar hot and high, pre-seventh is marked down meat appointments, and is now
a standson on his office; stall- could becaire up to, roy gon." The word repotism is being as expenses, and 20 001 Lexingʻd Senate hiquiry arising
paźd for by the country, Ifo For 11. turns out that My hurled about not only by those taxed.
out of the Sherman Adams- These disclosures are sink- saya ke is going to keep tiem Car,cr is far from sloze amonst who drow what it means
To rent an office in his Reese Bernant Goldane szandal. ing a desile barb into the theru. He Intenda "In tima” to Casgressmen who laice, the line ⋅ ("favouritiam «to "nepheiss and town, he is handed "another Mr Dulles's brother ́ ́Allen la fat of the disconcerted ratos thele pay. that jobs they can award in "other taiativer ), but by many $1,200 : (about 2430). Hla' chiaf of the Secret Service (he's. poll Helana, First, they Yo #cin oder no apologies," Then Wendigten officer-and more who sange it to be'n male - Washington oflow is rent free. a lifelong Government servant), clarmed about how their back.... hb siis. And et, theas who ARE (pay ter out',ef, publie-money- "play rude word (whatöver Ka For office· · expenses hin“They have a sister who works -ing from voters will be caforlog chau (though Amerka
Pre best kept in the family, *.. preebo measkagy to sling of receives $1,000 (C367), plus in the State Department na find affected.
seems in no mood to abrept Six of timen", who took their politicians ther are: now com- clicap alemping at his mail. of the Germani Bureau,
Second, they see little hope them) he asks: "I only regret parliamentexy posts for the firal, yixed are riding on the tax- For his staff he is paid $37,000 In anger, that Congressmen bow of parsing a new. Bi by so many mumbera of Congress. Lime only month or two seu "parent" backs.
(£14,286); if he's. a. Kapres should be eating “so high on the 'which they, hoped to get, zilli show esa animations to take care scatafive, $115,000 your hog evidence is being sought more money from the taxpayers of their own (£41,071) K Kew u senator,“ from 'their ̈ ̈ spending`of'publls to put into their own pocketa..
London" Exprdas "Bervibe.
have already put their wives On It is being pointed out that the Goverment payroll. Mr Carter's teenage son with a
tracts.
LITTLE HOPE
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