Enclosure No. 1 to Despatch No. 275, of the 30th June, 1908.
NEC C. O. 31340 REG1982 JUL 02
Extract from the "Hongkong Daily Press" dated 28th June, 500
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING. TELEGRAM OF SYMPATHY,
A special meeting of the Executive and Legislative Councils was held at 12.30 p.m. for the purpose of considering what steps should be taken in view of the news of His Majesty's illness. Present:--
His Excellency The Officer Administering the Government, Major-General Sir W. GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G. (Commanding the Troops).
Hon. F. H. MAY (Colonial Secretary). Hon. Sir HENRY SPENCER BLEKELEY, K.B. (Attorney-General).
Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer). Hon. Commander R. M. RUMSEY, R.N. (Harbour Master).
Hon. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public Works).
Hon. F. J. BADELEY (Captain Superintendent of Police).
Hon. Dr. Ho Kai. Hon. WEI A YEK.
Hon. C. S. SHARP. Hon. C. W. DICKSON,
Hon. G. W. F. PLAYFAIR. Hon. R. SKEWAN.
Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Acting Clerk of Councils).
Rev. G. A. BUNBURY (Acting Chaplain, St. John's Cathedral).
HIS EXCELLENCY--Gentlemen of the Council, I have summoned you here to-day on a most painful matter. Little did we think when we last met here and were looking forward with joyful anticipations to the Coronation celebrations which, owing to the indefatigable exertions of the members of the Coronation Committee, would, I think you will agree with me, have been a credit to this rising Colony--little did we then think that the next time that I should summon you would be for the purpose of discussing the question of their postponement. Gentlemen, I have to tell you that I have so far received no official communication whatever--none from the Colonial Office, none from the Horse Guards, none from the Admiralty--all I am in possession of is what you yourselves equally know--Reuter's telegrams. The first one simply says that the Coronation has been postponed indefinitely owing to His Majesty's indisposition. The next one tells us that the King is suffering from perityphlitis and that a surgical operation is rendered necessary. The next one speaks of the operation being fixed for ... o'clock yesterday afternoon and that His Majesty has issued a notice expressing his deep sorrow at the postponement of the Coronation celebrations in London, and it is His Majesty's earnest hope that the celebrations in this province and that the dinners to the poor will not be deferred. That is only like His Majesty's well-known consideration: he thought, even in the midst of his illness, of the poor. The next telegram speaks of the operation having been successfully performed, that the King bore the operation well, and that his condition is satisfactory. Now, gentlemen, I want to put the matter to you and will be guided entirely by your opinion. The way I shall put the matter will be this: If everything goes, as God knows I hope it may go, satisfactorily, later on there will be such a celebration of the King's Coronation when he is restored to perfect health, which God grant he may be, there will be such a celebration of his Coronation that will make the whole British Empire rejoice, even although we in Hongkong continue to hold the celebrations arranged for to-morrow and the following days. Again, gentlemen, we are met, and we must look at both sides of the question. If, which God forbid may be the case, further news do not go well and we elected to hold these Coronation celebrations, would not this soul be knocked out of them entirely if this sombre canopy which is hanging over us were felt the whole time? I wish to leave the matter entirely to your judgment, knowing well that I can rely most implicitly upon your opinion.
Hon. G. W. F. PLAYFAIR--Your Excellency, speaking personally, I wish to say that I do not think that any celebration should be held in the next few days, but however much one might wish to avoid it, I think it would be necessary to have the two days still as holidays, the reason being that there might be legal complications in connection with the due dates of bills. Bills are only due on Saturday and it might be awkward. There might be questions arising thereby which it would be better to avoid. I believe the Chinese have made full arrangements for having no work done during the next few days and it will be no use having the offices open. At the same time, while you have the offices two days closed, there will be no occasion to have any celebration.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI--Sir, I think all the members of this Council, and I am sure also the public in general in this Colony, must have received the sad news which Reuter has transmitted to us to-day concerning the King with the deepest concern and sympathy, and I think, even if we were to decide to go on with the Coronation celebrations, I am afraid that our hearts would be weighed down so much by the news and anxiety and with our sympathy with our most gracious King that we should the least enjoy the celebrations; and I think that enjoyment is what the celebration of the Coronation is for. But with our Sovereign the King lying in a dangerous state of health--although the latest telegram says the operation is successful, he is, as your Excellency says, in an uncertain condition of health--I think it is only showing our true heartfelt respect to have the entire celebrations postponed; the holidays of course may go on. I know for one that during the two days, whether we have holidays or not, we will most anxiously await news informing us of the condition of the King, and we all pray and hope that the news in the next few days will be most satisfactory and that it will occasion general pleasure in knowing that God has through His kindness preserved to us our Monarch.
Hon. C. S. SHARP--Your Excellency, I think that words are scarcely necessary and indeed would almost fail to express the feelings of grief and sorrow that must be prevailing over the whole Empire and also this small portion of that Empire at the news which has reached us about the serious illness of our gracious Sovereign King Edward. Suffice it to say that, as we were prepared to celebrate the event which was to come off to-morrow with gladness and all manner of rejoicings, so also do we now feel the sad tidings which have come over by telegram, and I think it would be, to say the least, unseemly for this community to observe in any way excepting in sorrow the holidays that have been set apart for this. I have not had time to personally consult my colleagues in the Chamber of Commerce as regards the holidays beyond a short conversation with the Vice-President, and if it is worth while having our expression of opinion, I may say that we are both perfectly agreed as to, if not the advisability, the possibility of postponing these holidays altogether. I think this community will await with the utmost anxiety the news that will come about our gracious Sovereign and we all sincerely hope and trust that the news will be good news.
HIS EXCELLENCY then put the question as ...
Enclosure No. 1 to Despatch No. 275, of the
30th. June, 1908.
¡NEC
C. O.
31340
REG1982 JUL 02
Extract from the "Hongkong Daily Press" dated 28th. June,
500
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING.
TELEGRAM OF SYMPATHY,
A special meeting of the Executive and Legislative Councils was held at 12.30 p.m. for the purpose of considering what steps should be taken in view of the news of His Majesty's illness. Present:--
His ExeLLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINIS TERING THE GOVERNMENT, Major-General Sir W. GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G. (Commanding the Troops).
Hon. F. H. MAY (Colonial Secretary). Hon. Sir HENRY SPENCER BLEKELEY, K.B. (Attorney-General).
Hen. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer). Hon. Commander R. M. RUMSEY, R.N. (Harbour Master).
Hon. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public Works!.
Hon. F. J. BADELEY (Captain Superinten- dent of Police).
Hon. Dr. Ho Ka
Hon. WEI A YEK.
Hon. C. S. SHARP.
Hou. C. W. DICKSON,
Hon. Q. W. F. PLAYFAIR.
Hon. R. SKEWAN.
Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Acting Clerk of Councils).
Rev. 6. A. BUNBURY (Acting Chaplain, St. John's Cathedral).
HIS EXCELLENCY-Gentlemen of the Council, I have suramoned you here to-day on a most painful matter. Little did we think when wo last met here and were looking forward with joyful anticipations to the Coronation celebrating which I
may here SHY,
of
owing to the indefatigabla exertions the members of the Coronation Committee, would. I think you will agree with mo, hare been a credit to this rising Colony-little did we then think that the next time that I should anmmon you would be for the purpose of discussing the question of their postponement. Gentlemen. I hay tell you that I have so far received no official communication whatever-- none from the Colonial Office, none from the Horse Guards, none from the Admiralty-all I am in possession of is what you yourselves equally know--Renter's telegrams. The first one simply saya that the Coronation has been postponed indefi itely owing to His Majesty's Indisposition. The next one tells us that the King is suffering from perityphlitis and that a surgical operation is rendered necessary. The next
the one speaks of
operation being fixed for o'clock gesterday afte noon and that His Majesty has issued a notice expressing his deep sorrow at the postponement of the Coronation celebrations in Tondon, and it is is Majesty's earnest hope that the evic- brations in this provizees and that the dinners to the poor will not be deferred. That is only like His Majesty's well-known co sideration: be thought, even in the midst of his illness, of tho poor. The next telegram speaks of the operation lay ng been successfully performed, that the King bore the operation well, and that his condition is satisfactory. Now, gentlemen, I want to put the matter to you and will be grided entirely by your opinion. The way I shall put the matter will be this: If everything goes, us God knows I hope it may ge, satisfactorily, later on there will be such a celebration of the King's Corona- tion when he is restored to perfect health, which God grant ha muy be, there will be such a cole- br. tion of his Coronation that will make the whole British Empire rejoice, even although Te in Hongkong continue to hold the cole- brations arranged for to-morrow two following days. Again, gentlemen we
and the
are me, and we must look at both sides of the question. If which God forkid may be he case, further nows do not go wall and we elected to hold these Coronation celebrations, would not tins soul be knocked ont of them entirely if this sombre canopy which is hanging over us were felt the whole time? I wish to save the matter entirely to your jadp- ment, knowing well that. T ean rely most implicitly upon your opinion.
Ho. G. W. P. PLAYPAIR--Your Bro-l- lency, speaking personally, I wish to say that I do not think that any celebration should be held in the next few days, bat however mach one might wish to avoid it I think it would be recessary to have the two days still as holidays, the reason being that there raight bo legal complictions in conection with the due dates of bills. Bills are only due on Saturday and it might be awkward. There might be questions arising tegely which it would be better to avoid. I believe the Chinese have made full arrangements for having no work dong during the next few days and it wil be Do us baving the offices open. At the same time, while you have the offices two days closed, there will be no occasion to have any celebration. Hou Dr. Ho KAY-Sir, I think all the members of this Council and 1 am sure also the public in general in this Colony must have received the sad news which Router have transmitted to us to-day concerning the King with the deepest concern and sympathy, and I think, even if we wore to decide to go on with the Coronation celebrations, I am afraid that our hearts would be weighed down so much by the news and anxiety aud with our sympathy with our most gracious King that we should the least enjoy the celebrations; and I think that sujoyment is what the celebration of the Coronation is for. But with our Sovereign the King lying in dangerous state of health-although the latest telegram says the o eration is successi'nl, he is, as your Excellency says, in an uncertain condition of health-I think it is only showing our trus heartfelt respect to have the entire celebrations postponed; the holidays of course may go on. kaow for one that during the two days, whether we have holidays or not, we will most auxionsly await news informing ns of the condition of the King, and we all pray and hope that the news in the next few days will be most satisfactory and that it will occasion gover- al ple sure in knowing that God has through His kindness preserved to us our Monarch,
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Hon. C. S SHARP-Your Excellency, I think that the words are scarcely necessary a: d indeed would almost fail to express the to lings of gref and sorrow that must be prevailing over the whole Empire and also this mall portion of that Empire at the news which bes reached us about the serious illness of our gracious Sovereign King Edward. Sullies it to sy that, as we wern prepared to celebrate the event which was to come off to-morrow with gladness and all manner of rejoicings, so also do we now feel the sad tidings which have come over by telegram, and I think it would be, to say the least, unseemly for this community to observe in any way excepting in sorrow the holidays that have been set apart for this. I have not had time to personally consult my colleagues in the Chamber of Con- merce as regards the holidays berend a short conv-rsation with the Vice-President, aud if it is worth while having our expression of opinion I may say that we are both perfectly agrood as to, if no tthe advisability, the possibility of postponing these bolidays altogether. I think this community will await with the utmost anxiety the news that will come about cur gracious Sovereign and we all sincerely hope and trust that the news will be good news.
H18 EXCELLENCY then put the question as
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