Extract from the China Mail of the 20th January, 1902. 3347
WEHAIWEI.
We have much pleasure in announcing the appointment of the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, Colonial Secretary of Hongkong, to the post of Commissioner of Weihaiwei. Since Weihaiwei was taken over from the Japanese, it has been administered by Naval and Military Commissioners, but on the 1st of January, 1901, the Colonial Office assumed the civil administration of the new Colony, and it is under that administration that Mr Stewart Lockhart becomes the first Civil Commissioner or Governor. Needless to say, his appointment will be sincerely approved by his numerous friends in this Colony and elsewhere. In itself, it is a mark of the high opinion entertained at the Colonial Office of Mr Stewart Lockhart's administrative ability that he should have been selected as the first Governor of this important outpost of the British Empire, in the Far East; and we have good reason to believe that his tactful energy will so distinguish his administration there that in due course other honours and higher appointments will fall to his lot.
Mr Stewart Lockhart came to Hong-kong with a good record. His early school days were spent at King William's School, Isle of Man, and Watson's College, Edinburgh, and at Edinburgh University he was a distinguished undergraduate, winning the Greek gold medal. After the usual competitive examination, he entered the Colonial service as a cadet, coming out to Hong-kong in that capacity in 1878. He applied himself assiduously to the study of the Chinese language, and, although some consider it a doubtful honour, he has every right to be enrolled in the limited list of men known as sinologues. His exceptional aptitude for the Chinese language probably accounts for his familiarity with the Registrar General's Department of the Colony, for as early as 1883 he was Assistant Colonial Secretary and Assistant Registrar-General.
Having filled several subordinate and acting appointments, he was selected for the position of Registrar General in 1887, and in the same year became a Member of the Legislative Council. In 1891, he was appointed to the Executive Council, thus taking the place in the inner councils of the local administration to which his knowledge of the Chinese fully entitled him. Before the Special Commission—known as the Retrenchment Commission—appointed at the instance of the Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council to enquire into the working of the civil service of the Colony, Sir George O'Brien, then Colonial Secretary of Hongkong and now Governor of Fiji, expressed a very high opinion of Mr Stewart Lockhart's ability and capacity for work; and it seemed to be in the fitness of things that when Sir George O'Brien left the Colony Mr Lockhart should be selected as his successor.
Sir George's opinion that so long as Mr Lockhart remained in the Colony he might well hold the joint offices of Registrar General and Colonial Secretary, and he accordingly held both offices until the increased work falling upon the Colonial Secretary's department in consequence of the extension of the Colony's boundaries necessitated a reversion to the old system. When it was proposed to extend the Colony by the acquisition of the New Territory at Kowloon, he was the Special Commissioner appointed by the Imperial Authorities to prepare an exhaustive report thereon, and he was afterwards the representative of Great Britain in the delimitation of the boundary. For both of these exceptional services he received the thanks of the Secretary of State, and in 1898 was decorated as C.M.G. In addition to his routine duties, Mr Lockhart has served on numerous Special Commissions and Committees, and has established a loyal and honourable record excelled by few men in the service.
We have not always seen eye to eye with Mr Lockhart on public questions and reference to our files would reveal the fact that he has frequently been the subject of severe criticism; but we are pleased to think that this robust difference of opinion has not embittered our personal relations and that we join honestly in the wish that the new Commissioner of Weihaiwei has a long and distinguished career yet ahead in the Imperial Service.
Of Mr Stewart Lockhart's interest in local affairs it is scarcely necessary to refer. He is proud of being a Scotsman, and it is doubtful whether he considers the Commissionership of Weihaiwei a higher honour than the Presidency of the Hongkong St. Andrew's Society, which he filled with much credit. At one time, he was an active participant in all our outdoor sports, and a successful one, as may be seen from the records of the various athletic clubs of the Colony. He was once Chairman of the Victoria Recreation Club, and at the present time is Chairman of the rival institution, the Hong-kong Club. He has been also President of the Hongkong Football Club for many years, and though not now so willing to join in the pack as when he was a member of the Edinburgh University Rugby team, he never misses an opportunity of seeing a good match at the Happy Valley.
We have no doubt that wherever the fortunes of the service may transplant him, Mr Lockhart will carry with him his love of health-giving outdoor recreation, and equally we have no doubt the experience he has gained in Hongkong will be to the benefit and advantage of those who serve under him or who have the good fortune to be placed under his rule.
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C. O.
Extract from the China Mail' of the 20th. January, 1902. 3347
OF
WEHAIWEI.
. ייִ་-
We have much pleasure TRE in announcing the ap COMMISSIONER pointment of the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, tolonial Secretary of Hongkong, to the post of Commissioner of Weihaiwei. Since Weibaiwei was taken over from the Japanese, it has been administered by Naval and Military Commissioners, butfi on the 1st of January, 1901, the Colonial!) Office assumed the civil administration of the new Colony, and it is under that! administration that Mr Stewart Lock! hart becomes the first Civil Commois- sioner or Governor. Needless to say, 1 his appointment will be sincerely ap proved by his numerous friends in this Colony and elsewhere. In itself, it is a mark of the high opinion entertained at the Colonial Office of Mr Stewart Lockhart's administrative ability that he should have been selected as the first Governer of this important cutpost of the British Empire, in the Far East; and we have good reason to believe that his tactful energy will so distinguish his administration there that in due course other honours and higher appointments will fall to his lot.
Mr Stewart Lockhart came to Hang- kong with a good record. His early school days were spent at King Wil‹ liam's School, Isle of Man, and Wat- son's College, Edinburgh, and at Edin- burgh University he was a distinguished undergraduate, winning the Greek gold medal. After the usual competitive examination, he entered the Colonial service as a cadet, coining out to Hong- kong in that capacity in 1878. He applied himself assiduously to the study of the Chinese language, and, although some consider it a doubtful honour, he has every right to be enrolled in the limited list of men known as sinologues. His exceptional aptitude for the Chinese language probably accounts for his familiarity with the Registrar General's Department of the Colony, for as early, as 1883 he was Assistant Colonial
Secretary and Assistant Registrar- General. Having filled several subordin ate and acting appointments, he was se lected for the position of Registrar Gener- alin 1887, and in the same year became a Member of the Legislative Council. In 1891, he was appointed to the Ex- ecutive Council, thus taking the place! in the inner councils of the local admini- stration to which his knowledge of the Chinese fully entitled him. Before the Special Commission-known as the Re- trenchment Commission-appointed at ! the instance of the Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council to enquire. into the working of the civil service of the Colony, Sir George O'Brien, then Colonial Secretary of Hongkong and now Governor of Fiji, expressed a very high opinion of Mr Stewart Lockhart's? ability and capacity for work; and it seemed to be in. the fitness of things that when Sir George O'Brien left the Colony Mr Lockhart should be selected as his successor.
Sir Georges pray
opinion that so loD NO Lockhart re- mained in the Colony he might well bold the joint offices of Registrar General and Colonial Secretary, and he accordingly held both offices until the increased work, falling upon the Colonial Secre- tary's department in consequence of the extension of the Colony's boundaries ne- cessitated a reversion to the old system. When it was proposed to extend the Colony by the acquisition of the New Territory at Kowloon, he was the Spe- eial Commissioner appointed by the In- perial Authorities to prepare an exhaus- tive report thereon, and be was after- wards the representative of Great Britain in the delimitation of the boun- dary. For both of these exceptional services he received the thanks of the Secretary of State, and in 1898 was de- corated as C.M.G. In addition to his routine duties, Mr Lockhart has served- on numerous Special Commissions and Committees, and has established a loyal and honourable record excelled by few men in the service. We have not always seen eye to eye with Mrą Lockhart on public questions and refer- ence to our files would reveal the fact that he has frequently been the subject of severe criticism; but we are pleased to think that this robust difference of opinion has not embittered our personal relations and that We
join honestly in the wish that the new Com- missioner of Weihaiwai has a long and distinguished career yer ahead in the Imperial Service.
can
Of Mr Stewart Lockhart's interest in local affairs it is scarcely necessary to refer. He is proud of being a Scots Fuan, and it is doubtful whether he
considers the Commissionership of Weiss baiwei a higher honour than the Pre- sidency of the Hongkong St. Andrew's Society, which he filled with much credit. At one time, he was an active participant in all our outdoor sports,¦ and a successful one, as may be seen from the records of the various athletic clubs of the Colony. He was Once Chairman of the Victoria Recreation Club, and at the present time is Chair- Iman of the rival institution, the Hong- kong Bont lub He has been also Pre- sident of the Hongkong Football Club for many years, and though not now so willing to join in the pack as when he was a member of the Edinburgh Uni- versity Rugby team, he never misses opportunity of seeing a good match at the Happy Valley. have
doubt that wherever the fortunes of the service Day trans- plant him, Mr Lockhart will carry with him his love of health-giving out- door recreation, and equally we have ao' doubt the experience he has gained in Hongkong will be to the benefit and advantage of those who serve under him- or who have the good fortune to be placed under his rule.
an
We
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