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Suffice it all, and need no mention from me, to say that by these services he has won the approbation and confidence of his King, and that His Majesty has appointed him to be the First Civil Commissioner of the new Colony of Weihaiwei—a promotion universally acknowledged to be well deserved, but which nevertheless will cause us sorrow by removing from our midst a capable and conscientious official, whose loss it will be most difficult to replace. To the Chinese, Mr. Lockhart has always been a good friend. His profound knowledge of their language, manners, and customs has enabled him to understand their needs and feelings better, and his ready sympathy with them in their difficulties and perplexities, has completely won their respect and confidence. I am quite certain that the Chinese of Hongkong will long remember Mr. Lockhart not only as a courteous and able official, but also as a kind and sympathetic friend. (Applause.) Now, gentlemen, Mr. Lockhart is about to leave us to take up his high appointment in the North. Though we are loath to part with him, I am sure all will join with me most heartily in bidding him God-speed in his new mission, and in wishing him every success in the administration of the new Colony. Fill up your glasses, then, gentlemen, and let us drink to the very good health of Mr. Lockhart, wishing him all happiness, long life, and prosperity. (Applause).
The toast having been honoured, Mr. LOCKHART in reply said—Dr. Lo Kai, Mr. Fung Wa Chun, and gentlemen, I feel very highly honoured indeed by this magnificent banquet which you have been so kind as to give me to-night. I think I may say that perhaps a meeting of this kind is almost unprecedented in the history of an English colony, and I can assure you that nobody can appreciate more heartily than I do the very great compliment you have paid me to-night. Mr. Fung Wa Chun has referred to me in terms far too flattering, and I am very much afraid that I am in no way worthy of the high encomium he has been pleased to pass upon me. During the time I have remained in this Colony, I have been very closely associated with the Chinese community, and I only hope that in the new possession to which I have been transferred I may have as pleasant a community to deal with as I have found the Chinese community of this Colony to be. (Applause.) Mr. Fung Wa Chun has been good enough to say that it will be difficult to replace me, but I regret that I cannot agree with him in that respect. Already a successor has been appointed in my place, the Hon. F. H. May, a gentleman well known to the Chinese here, and I feel sure that you will find in Mr. May an excellent official and one in every way worthy of the high office which I am about to vacate on my transfer to Weihaiwei. I feel certain that Mr. May's long experience of the Colony and his intimate acquaintance with Chinese affairs will enable the Government to carry on all the responsible duties of the office in a manner which will give every satisfaction to the Chinese community. (Applause.) No one can regret more than I do that my transfer to another Colony means the severance of the many very pleasant associations I have formed amongst the Chinese community of Hongkong, but I hope that before long I shall have the opportunity of renewing these associations. (Applause) Gentlemen, I particularly appreciate your kindness to me to-night, for I look upon it as another mark of the great consideration you have always extended to me. I have been amongst you for more than twenty years, and during that time I have received from the community to which you belong the greatest possible assistance in the discharge of my official duties, without which assistance it would have been impossible for me to discharge them in the manner—perhaps not altogether satisfactory—in which I have discharged them. I hope, as I have already said, that this is not a final farewell. Perhaps many of you will find your way to Weihaiwei, either on pleasure bent or on business. All of you here to-night are men who have a keen sense of business, and I trust that you will come to Weihaiwei and give us the benefit of it, and also invest there some of that capital which you possess to such a large extent. (Laughter and applause) I can promise you that every facility will be offered to you and every encouragement given to invest that capital. (Renewed laughter.) Many of you, in fact, all of you, I think, have come here with empty pockets—(laughter)—but I do not think, looking round me now, that there is one amongst you whose pockets are not filled to overflowing. (Renewed laughter.) I am perfectly certain, gentlemen, that you will agree with me when I say that there is no Government under which you could enjoy such real freedom and have such real justice as the British Government. (Hear, hear, and applause.) Well, gentlemen, you will find the British Government existing at Weihaiwei, and I can promise you the same freedom and the same justice. I only trust you will be induced to come there. I thank you all very much indeed for all the kindnesses you have shown me, and I trust that in the future we shall meet again, and that our relations in the future will be as cordial as they have been in the past. I thank you all very much indeed for the kindness you have shown to me. (Prolonged applause.)
Mr. LOCKHART then proposed the toast of the Chinese community, to whom, in unison with the British inhabitants, the prosperity of Hongkong was due. The toast was coupled with the name of Mr. Ho Tong, and was drunk with Highland honours.
Mr. Ho TUNG expressed acknowledgement of the honour that had been done him, but was afraid that Mr. Lockhart had made a very poor selection. ("No, no.") The fatigue entailed by the opening that afternoon of the Kowloon School (hear, hear) made him feel that he could not do justice to his countrymen, especially after the eloquent words of their distinguished guest and Mr. Fung Wa Chun. However, refreshed by the good things, liquid and solid, that had been placed before him, he felt encouraged to make an effort to fulfil his duty. (Laughter and applause.) That the Chinese community in the Colony had prospered and would continue to prosper no one could have the slightest doubt. (Hear, hear.) Hongkong, some sixty years ago a bare rock with a mere handful of inhabitants, had now a Chinese population of over 200,000, whose numbers were steadily increasing. "I myself," said Mr. Ho Tung, "have lately contributed my share to this increase." (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Continuing, he said that the Chinese community during the last twenty years had prospered so greatly that in some cases their shops and stores had superseded those of European firms. Not only had they advanced commercially, but in their social life they were evincing a desire for better things, one proof of which could be seen in the number of houses of European construction they were putting up. Furthermore, they had shown themselves fully alive to the advantages of the great area open to business by the reclamation scheme, for which all honour and credit were due to their respected fellow-citizen, the Hon. C. F. Chater. (Hear, hear.) The increase in the trade and commerce of the Chinese, it must be understood, was in no way lessened by the prosperity attending their Western
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Suffice it all, and need no mention from me. to say that by these services he has won the approbation and confidence of his King, and that His Majesty has appointed him to be the First Civil Commissioner of the new Colony of Weihaiwei-a promotion universally acknowledged to be well deserved, but which nevertheless will cause us dear by removing from our midst a capable sad conscientious official, whose loss it will be most difficult to replace. To the Chinese, Mr. Lockhart has always been a good friend. His profound knowledge of their language, manners, and oustons has enabled him to understand their needs and feelings better, and his roady sym pathy with them in their difficulties and per- plexities, has completely won their respect and confidence. I am quite certain that the Chi- ness of Hongkong will long remember Mr. Lockhart not only as a courteous and able off- cial, but also as a kind and sympathetic. friend. (Applause.) Now, geut-men, Mr. Lockhart, is about to leave us to take up his high appointment in the North. Though we ars loatli to part with him, I am sure all will join with me most heartily in bidding hira God- speed in his new mission, and in wishing him every success in the administration of the new Colony. Fill up your glasses, then, gentlemen, and let us drink to the very good health of Mr. Lockhart, wishing him all happiness, long life, and prosperity. (Applause).
F
The toast having been honoured, Mr. LOCKHART in reply said-Dr. Io Kai, Mr. Fung Wa Chun, and gentlemen, I feel very highly honoured indeed by this magnificent inquet which you have been so kind as to give e to-night. I think I may say that perhaps a meeting of this kind is almost unprecedented in the history of an English colony, and I can assure you that nobody can appreciate more heartily than I do the very great compliment you have paid me to-night. Mr Fang Wa Chun has referred to me in teras far too flattering, and I am very much afraid that I am in no way worthy of the high encomium ho bus been pleased to pass upon me. During the time I have remained in this Colony I have been very closely associated with the Chinese community, and I only hope that in the new possession to which I have been transferred I may have as pleasant a community to deal with as I have found the Chinese community of this Colony to be. (Applause.) Mr. Fung Wa Chun has been good enough to say that it will be diffoult to replace me, but I regret that I cannot agree with him in that respect. AL- ready a successor has been appointed in my place, the Hen. F. H. May, a gentleman well known to the Chinese here, and 1 feel sure that you will find in Mr. May an excellent official and one in every way worthy the traditions of the bigh office which I am about to vacate on my transfer to Weihaiwei. I feel certain that Mr. May's long experience of the Colony and his intimate acquaintance with Chinese affairs will enable the Government to carry on all the responsible daties of the office in a manner which will give every satisfaction to the Chinese com- munity. (Applause.) No one can regret more than I do that my transfer to another Colony means the severance of the many very pleasant associations I have formed amongst the Chinese community of Hongkong, but I hope that before long I shall have the opportunity of renew- ing these associations. (Applause) Gentle men, I particularly appreciate your kindness to we to-night, for I look upon it as another mark of the great consideration you hare always ex- tearled to me. I have been amongst you for more than twenty years, and during that time I have received from the commanity to which you belong the greatest possible assistance in the
discharge of my official duties, without which assistance it would have been impossible for me to discharge them in the manner-perhaps not altogether satifactory-in which I have dis charged them. I hope. as I have already said, that this is not a final farewell. Perhaps many of you will find your way to Weihaiwei, either on pleasure hent or on basiness. All of you here to-night are men who have a keen sense of business, and I trust that you will come to Weihaiwei and give us the benefit of it, and also invest there some of that capital which you possess to such a large extent, (Laughter and applause) I can promise you that every facility wilt be offered to you and every encouragement given to invest that cipital. (Renewed laughter.) Many of you, In fact, all of you, I think, have come here with empty pockets-(laughter)--but I do not think, looking round me now, that there is one amongst you whose pockets are not filled to overflowing. (Renewed laughter.) I am perfectly certain, gentlemen, that you will agree with me when
say that there is no Government under which you could enjoy such real freedom and have such real justice as the British Government. (Hear, hear, and applause.) Well, gentlemen. you will find the British Government existing at Weihaiwel, und
I can promise you the same freedom and the same justine. I only trust yen will be induced to come there. I thank you all very much ia. deed for all the kindnesses you have shown me, and I trust that in the future we shall meet again, and that our relations in the fature will be as cordial as they have been in the past. I thank you all very much indeed for tas kindness you have shown to me. (Prolonged applause.)
Mr. LOCKHART then proposed the toast of the Chinese community, to whom, in nnison with tho British inhabitants, the prosperity of Hongkong was due. The toast was coupled with the name of Mr. Ho Tong, aud was drunk with Highland honours.
Mr. Ho TUNG expressed acknowledgement of the honour that had been done him. but was straid that Mr. Lockhart had made a very poor selec- tion. No, no.") The fatigue entailed by the opening that afternoon of the Kowloon Schol fhear, hear) made him feel that he could not do justice to his countrymen, especially after the eloquent words of their distinguished guest and Mr. Fung Wa Chun. However, refreshed by the good things, liquid and solid, that had been placed before him, he felt encouraged to make an effort to fulfil his duty. (Laughter and applause.) That the Chinese community in the Colony had prospered and would contious to prosper no one could have the slightest doubt (Hear. hear.) Hongkong, some sixty years ago a bare rock with a mere handful of inhabi- tants, had now a Chinese population of over 200,000, whose numbers were steadily increasing. "I myself," said Mr. Ho Tung, bave lately contributed my share to this increase." (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Coutiuning, he said that the Chinese community during the last twenty years had prospered so greatly that in some cases their shops and stores had superseded those of European firms. Not only bad they advanced commercially, but in their social life they were evincing a desire for better things, one proof of which could be seen in the number of houses of Buropeau construction they were putting up. Further more, they had shown themselves fully alive to the advantages of the great area open to business by the reclamation scheme, for which all honour and credit were due to their respected fellow-citizen, the Hon. C. F. Chater. (Hear, hear.) The increase in the trade and commercS of the Chinese, it must be understood, was in 110
way lessened by the prosperity attending their Western
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