CO129-517-5 The visit of the Duke of Gloucester to Hong Kong 2-5-1929 - 23-5-1929 — Page 32

[English Translation]

Presented to

His Royal Highness Prince Henry William Frederick Albert Duke of Gloucester, this 25th day of April, 1929 by the Chinese Community of Hong Kong

Of late the tidings of the illness of His Majesty King

George were to us and to all his subjects a matter of grave anxiety. But now that the happy augury of His Majesty's recovery allows our Prince with an untroubled mind to direct his golden chariot upon this Royal mission and at last to come among us, the people of the Colony, old and young, make manifest their delight; they run hither and thither to spread the news and offer their greetings from the roadsides, eager for the joy of seeing your Royal person.

Our Prince with his noble ancestry of the Royal Line has ever taken the lead in camp and ecuncil as all do acknowledge.

We have memories of the year 1922 when Hong Kong welcomed His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales; and three years later, when His Majesty's Ship "Hawkins was on her Far Eastern Commission, His Royal Highness Prince George was stationed in this very place. Thus within a single decade have three of His Majesty's Sons stopped and stayed here, a Royal distinction for this distant Island which has surely never been equalled.

Now all of us, old and young, with all respect and from the depths of our hearts pay our tribute of loyalty to His Majesty the King, with the prayer that you will convey this tribute to him. And we tender our heartfelt wishes of boundless prosperity and length of years both for His Majesty and for your Royal Highness and of continued peace for the Empire.

Wherefore with respectful obeisance and unfeigned sincerity we now offer this our Ode.

Now is our Prince

Ode

Young in years but sage in counsel; Beside his skill in letters

He is well versed in martial affairs.

Of late he has received the King's behest

And bears the token of his Eastern mission;

Wher'u'r points his starry chariot

There do all men feel the soft air of his benevolence.

Upon his devious travels he comes among us

To visit us his people;

We crane the neck to see his Royal person

With shouts of joy like thunder.

Tiny is our rocky islet

But for long has it been girt by the Royal benevolence; High is his virtue and his goodness is spread abroad Reaching to the humblest of us his subjects.

To see with our eyes the Royal presence

This is to enjoy a glorious fortune;

With unfeigned sincerity we offer up this Ode, This humble tribute of our rude verses.