Extract from the "South China Morning Post" of the 26th.Nov.,1909.
KING EDWARD'S
BIRTHDAY.
NOTABLE CELEBRATION IN
C
573
0
550
ret 5 JAN 10
302
HONGKONG.
ROYAL STATUES UNVEILED.
BRILLIANT FUNCTION,
'
Glorious atmospheric conditions prevailed on Thursday, the day set apart in the Colony for the celebra-| tion of the King's birthday. That such conditions were taken advan- tage of by the fair sex might go without saying, judging by the in- numerable autumn and winter "creations" that were in evidence, picked out, as it were, with a few alinging to conditions just passing In striking contrast were seen the gay uniforins of the Army! and Navy which added to the bril liant kaleidoscopic effect of the crowd assembled to do honour to King Edward VII. ia Statue Square.
away,
It being a general holiday, all the business offices were closed and the: town was in gala attire, flags being flown from many bviklings. All the British war-vessels in barbour dress- ed ship for the occasion, the Ameri- cau, German and Portuguese gun- boats also showing a gallant display! of bunting. The merchant boats wore not backward, Messrs. Jurdine, Matheson and Co.'s, Butterfeld and Swire's and the C.P.R. Co.'s boats: being also gaily be-decked with flagsi as well as a number of the river steamers. It is probable that those, merely showing flags at their mast-
heads had already celebrated el! where on the 9th. At noon, the usual
royal salute was fired by the men-of- war in port.
The principal feature of the day' was the public functions following upon the parade and the unveiling of the statues of H.M. the Queen
and H.R. H. the Princess of Wales
General Broadwood, G.0.0., was ati Home at Headquarters Ionse to military and civil visitors, whi Commodore Lyon held open house
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NO YKORVARING MEA
on the Tamar to the Navy and civil visitors. These were followed in the evening by the ball in Government House, the brilliant function bein largely attended.
During the day the stream of of cial visitors at Government House, Headquarters House and the Naval Yard was large, all the Consular representatives of the other nations resident in Hongkong tendering: their congratulations on the auspici- ous occasion.
a
Outdoor amusements were many and varied, the principal being the final of the match between Singa- Our soldiers pore and Hongkong. and sailors had not been neglected. for in addition to the picnic under the auspices of the Seamen's Insti- tute, of which a large number avail- ed themselves, there was also concert at the Sailors and Soldiers') Home in Arsenal Street, at which many patriotic songs were sung. Lastly there was the boxing in th newly erected stadium at the Br View Hotel, which claimed its quota of enthusiasts. There were also numerous private picnics and parties in celebration of the day.
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Our American cousins had double celebration, yesterday being. Thanksgiving Day, when no doubt the standard turkey and cranberry was in evidence at many a
Bauce
table.
The Celebrations
Those who witnessed yesterday's festivities will long remember them as the most brilliant held in the Colony for some years. At quite an early hour crowds were wending their way towards Statue Square,
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