CO129-595-4 Governor's report on arrival in Hong Kong and resumption of duty 8-5-1946 - 2-7-1946 — Page 19

GOVERNOR'S SPEECH

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1ST MAY, 1946.

Enclosure No. 5.

19

My first duty is to give to the people of Hongkong a message which His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to command me to deliver.

These are the terms of the gracious message :

"The return of Sir Mark Young and the re-establishment of Civil Government in Hongkong marks a further step in restoring the welfare of the Colony after the long and arduous ordeal through which it has passed. The hardships and the cruelty of the Japanese oppression have left in their train many difficulties and problems. With resolution and co-operation these difficulties can be overcome. The

Military Administration under Admiral Harcourt has already set Hongkong on the path of happiness and prosperity. I have no doubt that the strenuous efforts which will be made in this direction by the Civil Government will receive the whole-hearted support of all sections of the community. I am confident that all of you will play your full part in re-establishing that spirit of tolerance and goodwill which alone will enable Hongkong to regain the pride of place which she has occupied in the past, and to have that influence for world peace in future for which her position as an international meeting place makes her particularly fitted.

The Queen and I rejoice with you on this occasion and send our greetings and heartfelt wishes for the future".

I know that all the people of Hongkong to whom this most gracious and welcome message has been addressed will wish me to express in reply our profound gratitude for His Majesty's words and the firm determination of the people of Hongkong to justify the confidence which His Majesty places in them.

And now, Sir, I turn with feeling of the deepest appreciation to thank you for the welcome which you have given to me on my return to Hongkong. Of the feelings which this return engenders in my mind I will only say that it is the fulfilment of a hope which has been very near my heart throughout the long period of my separation from Hongkong. Never for a moment during those years have I ceased to confide in the certain advent of the victory which has restored the freedom of this loyal Colony, and never did I cease to hope that when that victory had been accomplished it might fall to my lot to resume the office which had been entrusted to me shortly before the outbreak of the Pacific War.

Your Excellency has spoken of the bond of sympathy which subsists between me and all the inhabitants of the Colony who have suffered from being in the hands of the enemy. I assure you and I assure them that it is a very real and lively sympathy; and moreover I hope that I may be found not merely to have felt the sympathy of a fellow sufferer but also to have been able to ap roach with understanding various problems arising from the grievous difficulties to which the people of Hongkong were exposed during the period of enemy occupation.

I derive the greatest pleasure from your Excellency's reference to the co-operation you have received from the Chinese Military Authorities and from the American Naval and Military Authorities.