CO129-316 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [1-4] — Page 511

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during his five years' administration is not the intention of Your Petitioners, nor is it deemed

necessary to do so; but there are some administrative acts which have so deeply touched the hearts of the native population that it is impossible for them to ever forget.

7. That several public charitable institutions have in recent years been promoted and estab-

lished under His Excellency's direct patronage having for their object the healing of the sick and sheltering of the incurable. The New Wing of the Tung Wa Hospital, the Infectious Diseases

Hospital, the Home for Lepers, and the projected Maternity Hospital are and will be perpetual monuments of the charitable phase of his benevolent Government; while his personal zeal in the cause of charity has caused the Chinese to treble their efforts in contributing to the relief of sufferers from the devastations of war, famine, typhoon, or flood.

8. That the establishment of separate schools for European children and high schools for the

sons and daughters of the Chinese, together with the endowment of a College of Medicine for the Chinese and the adoption of most of the recommendations of the Educational Committee, are Govern- mental acts which cannot fail to promote education in the Colony, especially among the Chinese

inhabitants.

9. That the passage of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance in its present form, the adoption of various effective but considerate and reasonably sanitary measures, the opening of Government Dispensaries, the institution of a Bacteriological Research Department, the employment of Chinese trained in Western medical science, the establishment of Public bath-houses, the con- servation of open spaces, the training of nullahs, the increase of the water storage, and the

better regulation of the water supply, are measures which will improve the health of the Colony,

and finally eradicate therefrom all forms of epidemic and infectious disease.

10.

That the almost bloodless pacification of the New Territory together with the establishment of local tribunals and the promotion of agriculture and industry there, the improvement and augmentation of the police and district watchmen forces, the stern suppression of secret

societies, and the deportation of hardened criminals and dangerous characters, have tended to preserve the peace and good order of this Colony in a manner the most effective and unsurpassed.

11. That the maintenance of unbroken friendly relations with the local Goverment at Canton,

frequently under very trying circumstances, especially during the troublous time of the taking

over of the New Territory and during the boxer rising in the North of the Chinese Empire, has

inspired Your Petitioners with the utmost confidence in the diplomatic as well as the administra-

tive abilities of Sir Henry Blake, and this confidence has spread a tranquil feeling over the mind

of the Chinese residents notwithstanding the many recent disquieting rumours of rebellious

risings in the neighbouring provinces and of possible foreign complications.

12.

That the new Public Health and Buildings Ordinance reserves large discretionary powers to

the Governor and several of his Executive Officers, and that the carrying out of all its most

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important