is
duty to do. and frat taken in hand. Health and pleasure ea; the wheels of progress, and 1 may add of bicycles, more on roads, and in my belief a great strengthening of the defence of this Island will take place when the tracing across the pathless barrier of Mount Cameron and Mount Nicholson is broadened into & read. Shortly after arriving in this colony- I urged the Government to take this in hand on public grounds, and it is with great pleasure that by an agreement effected, on my representation this boon to the pleasure of the colony and to its defence may be expected short ly to begin. I can hardly teach you much about dance; the revenno is increasing, the financial position is sound, and taxation is light; but cost- ly works lie ahead. New Law Courts, New General Post Office, a new Government Resid- ence at the Peak and other public works for which money will have to be provided; in fact the ory is ever "Onward," and I have no doubt that under the able Director, the public works of the future will be as magnificent and useful as those undertaken in the past. It is beyond my province to do more than allude to the great
dramas that have bean and are being enssted: around us. We live in a bistory-making spooh and changes are now in progress which will powerfully affect the future destinies of the. fire great nations of the world. Little Hong- kong is not far removed from the contre of *action, and its rulers may have a word to say to the shaping of events. Sir Henry Blake will shortly arrive to assume the reins of govern-1 ment and I congratulate the colony on having secured a chief so able and so experienced, and have no doubt that the colony will advance under his wise rule. I cannot retire from the Presidency of this Council without thanking the Honourable Members for the zeal and at- tention which they have brought to bear on all matters submitted to them and for the kindly spirit which has animated all their dealings with me. I have much pleasure in acknowledging the loyal and willing co-opera tion with which the Colonial Secretary and the other official members have worked with me in our joint task of carrying out the administra- tion of the colony. (Applause).
The Hon. C. É, CHATER-Your Excellency, on behalf of my colleagues and myself, the unofficial members, I have to thank you indeed very much for what you have been pleased to any about us, and I should like to offer a few remarks on this occasion, being the last you' will as Officer Administering the Goverument: preside over this Council. During the 10, months you have filled the obair you have. always shown unfailing tact in the conduct; of the business of the Council and the utmost consideration for its members, and we have! now to thank you for that consideration and courtesy, Your Excellency has during the tenure of your office as Acting Governor been called upon to exercise a good deal of nice descrimination in several matters and you have never spared time or trouble in connection with the affairs of the colony. Your term of ad- ministration, it is interesting to remember, will always be memorable in our local annals as the year in which the extension of the boundaries of the colony wis securod, and the part you! have taken in connection therewith will be a pleasant recollection to you when you are far away. In taking leave of your Excellency as the Pre- sident of the Council I trust you will have an equally useful field for your energies in some other part of our very wide Empire-hear, hear) and that your sterling qualities will be as highly and as fully appreciated as they are in this colony. (Applause.)
Hon. Ho KAI-Your Excellency, as senior representative of the Chinese, perhaps I will be permitted to add a few remarks to those that bave fallen from the senior unofficial member. On behalf of the Chinese, I would acknowledge to your Excellency that they appreciate your wise and benevolent administration to the fullest extent, and the only regrot the Chinese community have is that that reign, so ben. ficent and so conducive to their welfare, is all but too short. When you vacate the chair of this Council, when you leave the administration of the Government, the Chinese will feel that they will have lost a wise ruler as well as a true! friend. Personally, I have to thank your Ex- cellency for the many kind acts that you have? shown towards myself and my collemcne thin
Hon.
Hou. Wei Yuk, thus rendering what otherwise would be a dealt saak, to represent the Chi- nese in this Coand, an easy matter and also a pleasant one. I can assure your Excellency that long afterwards we will remember your kindness to as, and also the support and assist. ance you have given to us in our public capacity and shown us in our private intercourse. (Ap- planso.)
th
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-Before proceeding with the basiness of the day, I am sure your Excellency will excuse me if I say that the official members of this Council are very much indebted to your Excellency for the very kind torms in which your Excelloney has spoken of the co-operation and zeal with which the official membors of this Council have worked with your Excellency. I do not think I am flattering the Civil Service of this colony when I say that loyal co-operation with all its Gover nors, and zoal to carry out measures conducive to the welfare of the colony are marks of the Civil Service of this colony. I think I may go a little further than merely offer the warmest thanks of the official members talajjalin mukaan jagathmaking and make myself pokesman of the whole Civil Servants. Many of them have not been, perhaps, brought into personal contact with your Excellency, but the manner in which you have ruled, and given your decision and the gentlemanly and firm way in which you have held the reins of office casinot but be admired by the members of our service. (Applause.)
The business of the meeting was then pro- ceeded with.
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