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HON. MR. A. G. M. FLETCHER, C.M.G.

FAREWELL TIFFIN BY GENERAL

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE."

The Hon. Mr. A. G. M. Fletcher, C.M.G., G.B.E., who is leaving Hong kong on Saturday to take up the appoint. ment of Colonial Secretary of Ceylon, was entertained at tiffin at the Roof Garden of the Hongkong Hotel, yesterday, by the members of the Hongkong General Unnmber of Commerce and the opportu- nity was taken to present the guess of honour with a handsome silver loving cup, subscribed by the members of whom there was a fully representative attendance.

At the head table the Chairman of the Chambor (the Hon. Mr. P. H. Holyoak) had on his right H.E. The Governor (Sir Cecil Clementi, K.C.MG.) and on his left the Hon. Mr. A. G. M. Fletcher, C.M.G., C.B.E Mr. B. R. Forster, Private Secretary to the Governor, was Also present. The other seats at this table were occupied by members of the Chamber who are either on the Execu tive or Legislative Councils, or are mem- bers of the General Committee of the

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, JANUARY 7TH, 1926

It was inevitable that any man of action' who cared to accept the responsibility of making decisions in periods of difficulty would make mistakes, and he did not say that Mr. Fletcher had not made any; no man who is willing to take quick notion and make difficult decisions can hope to escape criticism or avaid mistakes.

SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS.

TWO NIGHT PROWLERS SENT TO GAOL.

Before Major C. Willson at the Central Magistracy yesterday afternoon, two Chinese living at No. 14. Temple Street, amati, were charged with loitering with intent to pick pockets. One of the defen- dants was further charged with attempt- ing to bribe a district watchman.

The evidence for the prosecution, whiel was conducted by Sub-Inspector Wilson, was to the effect that two district watch- meu noticed the defendants and "two other men loitering at the junction of lec. House Street and Queen's Rond Central after dark and acting in a suspicious man-

along Queen's Road as far as Wing On Street, where they stopped. During this time one of the defendant's (the man charged on two counts) told the watch- men that he knew who, they were and asked them why they were following him and his companions. It was alleged by the prosecution that the defendant then offered the watchmen te money. The watchmen arrested the two defendants,

ner. The watchmen followed the men

she wants your help and your patience, As in the 6ld story, when the question was asked which of the three-the Levite, the Friest or the Samaritan—was neigh- bour to the man who fell among thieves, the answer was "He that showed mercy. and the command came “Go thou, and do likewise." It is true, the wounded "Mr. Fletcher has impressed us. man did not bite the hand pf the Good throughout his career," said Mr. Holyoak. Samaritan. (Laughter) Living as I da as a man who has been prepared to in what may be called a "sheltered accept responsibility for individual action occupation" I realise I have no business and the consequences which must flow to preach to those who are out in the from so doing. He has shown abundant open beating the brunt of the storm, but tact and courtesy, and I think, nearly there is one thing which I wish to say everybody, in the Colony, must have becaWe were taught at our public schools impressed with the fact "that, busy mun to be self-reliant and to cultivate an as he is, he almost invariably finds time attitude of mind which shows a stubborn for all those who seek an interview. Mr. front to the slings and "arrows of Fletcher will go down in the bistory of outrageous fortune," and I congratulate this Colony, and in the memory of us you on the way in which you are worthily all, as a man who has handled difficult upholding this tradition: I think the situations with extraordinary tact, re- Empire should feel proud that its honour markable ability, conspicuous energy is in such good keeping. Just one last and with an urgent and genuine desire word: the island of Ceylon is a half-way to achieve a solution. These qualities in house between Hongkong and England; any officer who is entrusted with high it is perhaps improbable that the Colonial executive powers cannot fail to impress Secretary's Office hangs out a bush, but themselves on the Community and the we shall be easily found, and my wife Chamber, namely: The Hou. Sir Paul Government. We are delighted with the and I will consider it an unfriendly act but the other two men ran away. Chater, Kt., C.M.G., the Hon. Sir Henry honour paid to Mr. Fletcher and the if when you pass through you neglect to Pollock, K.B.E, K.C., the Hon. Sit Shou recognition of his services, but our con call. In the ce tain hope that you will Son Chow, the Hon. Mr. R. H. Kotewall, gratulations to him on his appointment not fail us in this respect I wish you the Vice-Chairman of the Chamber (the are tinged with regret that he is depart Au revoir"

"Good-bye." Hon. Mr. A. O. Lang), Mr. M. Young.ing at this difficult time. It was the hope MBE, Mr. Paul Lauder, Mr. A of this Colony that Mr. Fletcher would Barlow, Mr. D. G. M. Bernard, Mr. W. H. Bell, Mr. J. Owen Hughes, Mr. J. A. Plummer, Mr. T. G. Well, Lieut. Comdr. C. St. C. Ingham, B.N... Major R. D. Bennett, M.C.

remizin, permanently with us and would he confirmed in the Appointment of Colonial Secretary for Hongkong."

and not

(Leid applause.)

The proceedings then terminated. PRESENTATION FROM THE CLUB

DE RECREIO.

PORTUGUESE. COMMUNITY'S

TRIBUTE.

In token of their admiration, and especially in appreciation of the services the Hon. Mr. A. G. M Fletcher had rendered to the Club de Recreio in sees ing for them a new recreation ground the members last night entertained Mr and Mrs. Fletcher at the Chah and on behalf of the members, air. E. V. M. R. de Souza, President of the Club, pre The inscription on the loving cup wassented to them a handsome silver salver as follows:-

Presented to The Hon. Mr. A. G M. FLETCHER, CMC, CB.E..

a. Holyoak then presented, on behalf of the assembly, a silver Loving Cup' of handsome design, which he said it was GOVERNOR CONGRATULATED.

the spontaneous wish of those present The toast of "The King" having been (many of whom had expressed themselves honoured, the Chairman took the op- in the most cordial terms in proposing portunity to digress for a moment from this joint tribute), that Mr. and Mrs. the toast list in order to refer to the Fletcher should accept as I lasting New Year Honours announced since the memory of their esteem and regard. tiffin arrangements had been maile. He (Applause.) felt sure it was the wish of all present that the occasion should not pass with out expressing to His Excellency the Governor the keen pleasure felt by every- one in Hongkong at the high bonuur con- ferred by His Majesty The King, and at his presence on this secasion.

་

Sir Cecil Clementi's health was then enthusiastically toasted.

་ད

H.E. THE GOVERNOR in reply said: Gentlemen, I thank you very cordially for drinking the toast of my health and for the congratulations you have given me on the honour which His Majesty The King has been pleased to bestow on me. There is one thing this occasion prompts me to remark: that it must be a very great pleasure to us all to find that in opite of what happened on Friday of last week the Hongkong Hotel is doing "business as usual. (Applause.) hope that will also be the motto of busi- ness men in this Colony in the present dificult circunstances.

"hy the Members of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce as a token of esteem and appreciation of many years invaluable services to the Commercial and Shipping Interests of Hongkong, January, 1926.

Mr. W. S. BAILEY, as one who had been in close contact with Mr. Fletcher, ven- tured heartily to endorse the tribute which had been paid by the Chairman Only those who had worked with Mr. Fletcher as he had done could appres ciate his sterling qualities, directness, candour, absolute honesty of purpose and quick grasp of business. (Applause.)

The toast enthusiasm.

Was

honoured with

Cross-examined by Mr. G. B. Haywood (for the defence), one of the district watchmen denied that the defendant pulled out only a few ten-cens pieces and that he refused to accept this and then. arcsted him and his companion.

The defendant charged with loitering and attempting to bribe the watchman, raid that he was an unemployed seamen, having left his ship three days ago. On January 2nd he came to Hongkong to rake enquiries" at a shop regarding_a remittance to send to his father. He admitted he had been convicted about 12 months ago for picking pockets. The district watchman, he continued, came up to him and asked to borrow a few del- lats, which defendant refused to lend him. The watchman then searched him and found some money. Defendant told the watchman he could not have all the money, as it was not his, but that he could take 20 or 30 cents for tea money. The second defendant then came on the scene, and enquired what the trouble was about. The district watchman abused the second defendant and told him he was

Mr. E. V. M. B. DE SOUZA, in welcoming

too saucy" and they were then both Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher said that Mr. arrested. One of the watchnien held $3 Fletcher was an official of whom the in his hand and told witness that this whole Colony was justly proud. Ever was the 93 he had given him, and defen- since his appointment as Colonial Secredant asked for it back denying that be tary of Ceylon there had been general had given it to the watchman. regret that Hongkong would be deprived The second defendant corroborated his uf his services. Ile was considered part companion's story in the main. of the Hongkong Government. However, it had been decided otherwise and while they regretted his leaving them, they heartily congratulated him on his promo tion. (Applause.)

Cross-examined, defendant admitted that he was a brother-in-law of the other defendant and lived at No. 14, Temple Street, with him and his wife and daughter.

As permanent residents of Hongkong | Mr. Haywood remarked that if His they had watched his earcer step by step. Worship took a serious view of the case, and he believed that some of them could he could call evidence, if he had time, still remember Mr. Fletcher as the British as he had only been called into the case Vice-Consul at Macao some 25 years ago. that morning, to show that the first There, although still young, he made a defendant and called at a shop regard who came in contact with him and all ever, that there was no case and asked very favourable impression with everyone ing a remittance. He submitted, how. felt sure he had a very promising career for the discharge of the defendanta. They only had path against oath. He thought the defendants story was the more probable of the two.

before, him.:

In Hongkong, his work needed no com- mendation. It had been acknowledged in no uncertain terms by the Colony'e highest authority, the Hon. Members of the Legislative Council, by the Press in general and by the Chamber of Com- merce. He was a man with infinite rapa city for work, never sparing himself where the interests of the Colony were concerned. And last, but not least, he was a man who was courtesy itself.

His Worship sentenced the first defcu dant to 10 weeks' hard labour on the two charges; and the second to one month's hard labour.

22

CORRESPONDENCE. ANTI-FOREIGN?

MR. FLETCHER REPLIES. The Hon. Mr. A. G. M. FLETCHER. in responding to the toast, said he felt most deeply sensible of the high honour bestowed upon him in inviting him to be the guest on this occasion: he felt as though the Committee of the Chamber, as the civic fathers of the Colony, had

The members of the Club de Recreio bestowed on him the freedom of the City upon his departure. I see here," said had special reasons to be grateful to Mr. Mr. Fletcher, many old friends with Fletcher for bis services in securing the 4 [TO THE EDITOR OF THE "HONGKONG

DAILY PRESS."1 whom I have grown up and lived in daily grant of new grounds to the Club, and contact both in work and in play for on behalf of the members he had great

Sin,-Boating during the Christmas period of twenty-four years. As regards pleasure in acknowledging their debt of the brighter side of life, the cheery gratitude and in asking Mr. and Mrs holiday in the waters of the New Territory countenance of my old friend, Mr. Charles Fletcher to accept a silver salver from the I had occasion to land from the dinghy Lafrentz, has recalled to me one of iny members in recognition of the many in shallow water. A Chinese fisherman nearby showed my boat boy the best earliest memories. In the days before. I favours the Club had received. ever thought of coming to "Hongkong I They would have liked to have received landing place. Not content with this he and two friends who were down at Lyme him in their new grounds, but the clabquite unsolicited-helped to drag the llegis on the coast of Dorset, reading house was not yet ready. However, being dinghy onto the beach, and not being quite successful in dragging it far enough, he placed a stone so that I and my friend might step ashore dry. These are the people it is a pleasure to live among and a pleasure to help in turn when the ocea Mr. De Souza then presented a silversion arises. It is only skilful propaganda. salver to Mr. Fletcher. Cheers were which will fill them with anti-foreign views given for Mr. and Mrs Fletcher and and ably organized intimidation which will toasts drunk to their future prosperity. bring them up to anti-foreign actions.

Mr. FLETCHER, in reply, said it gave Mrs. Fletcher and himself great pleasure. to be with them. Really words failed

We are here to do bonour to a very old friend and colleague of mine, Mr. Fletcher, who is going to take over the task which I laid down very recently in Ceylon. It is an extremely difficult task entirely different from the one which confronts us here. It is a Government rua very largely by speech-making: I am glad we have not got to that stage berc. (Laughter.) Mr.Fletcher will find that in season and out of season be will be expected to make speeches, and very long speeches, in Council and elsewhere, and I strongly advise him to improve the shining hour and never to lose an op- portunity of making a speech As head of the Government it, of course, gives me the greatest pleasure to see you united to do honour to my principal adviser. I wish to offer Mr. Fletcher my very sincere congratulations ou lus appointment to Ceylon a better man could not possibly have been chosen for the post, and I wish or pretending to read-met Charles him all success. He will find many Lafrentz at a small Club one of the rules Friends in the cadet service of Ceylon. of which was: "No bridge, on Sundays." The CHAIRMAN then proposed the health We wanted to make a fourth and we of Sir Shou Son Chow, to which there picked out Lafrentz is the member who was an enthusiastic response, and Sir looked the greatest rake: (Laughter.) I Shou Bon Chow thanked the assembly was deputed to approach him, which 1 for their good wishes.

did in fear and trembling, and managed to collect him for our fourth. That was the beginning of a long friendship. Later on I bave a vivid recollection of what I might perhaps callback chat" ex changed over the counters of our respec tive yachts with Sir Henry Pollock, Mr. Bird and others.

confident that Mr. Fletcher's great love for Hongkong would bring him back in the not distant future, they hoped to have the honour of welcoming Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher to their pew clubhouse.

I 0.

TRIBUTE TO ME. FLETCHER. The CHAIRMAN then proposed the toast of the day. Our Guest Mr. Holyoak said he had already referred in the

him to express his, thanks for the magnACHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS. Legislative Council to Mr. Fletcher's

ficent gift which they had so kindly pre- sented to him. Their President had re- TWO PERSONS DIE FROM INJURIES. early days in the Colony and the manner in which he had handled the reorganisa- In work, too, I owe a very deep debt called the fact that 24 years ago, he was tion of the Trademarks Department, of gratitude to my most staunch and Vice-Consul in Macao, and he had very An unknown Chinese, aged about 65, which until then had been in a condition loyal friend, Mr. Holyoak, and to you all happy memories of those far-off days in who is believed by the police to have that could only be described as chaotic for the manner in which you have most Macao, one of the most beautiful places been a commercial traveller, jumped from That was twenty-two years ago, but later, freely and ungrudgingly given me your he had been in. He was there as the a tram-ear while it was in motion at the during the War years 1917 and 1818, when asistance and advice. We have seen representative of Great Britain, and he Praya East, near Amoy Street, at 130 pm on Tuesday. He was removed to the he happened to be, Chairman of the many ups and downs, the smiles and would never forget the most kind hos-

Government, Civil Hospital, bat died the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Fletcher frowns of Fortune alternating, and at the pitality he received there." acted for a considerable period as present time I am afraid she is in her The Government of Hongkong owed same night as a result of his injuries. Colonial Secretary. Unprecedented prob gloomiest mood. This is not the occa- very much to its Portuguese community Jenis arose confinuously throughout that ion for discussing political issues, but who had shown themselves of great value. time, and many decisions having far I should like to take this last opporta in various ways, as Special Police during reaching consequences had to be taken: nity of aaying just one thing: I do feel the war, and during the strikes which we During those two years," as the Committee that we could very usefully apply to our had unfortunately experienced during the of the Chamber of Commerce well knew, present problems the lesson taught us by last few years. the sasistance Mr. Fletcher rendered was our own "Buffragettes in England. The As regards their new recreation of immense value and importance to busi Suffragette, as you remember, said "I grounds, he had to any that any small ness interests. New questions are in want equal treatment: you can have ma assistance that he had been able to give regard to which there were no precedents as a friend or as a foo." I remember he had given very sincerely, and he hoped to guide either the Government or the very well meeting the Rector of War they would do well in their new quarters, Chamber as to the right course to pur- grave, whose beautiful Church had beer Mr. FLETCHER concluded by proposing sue, but it so happened that the Colony burned down by Suffragettes. He de continued success to the Club de Recreio was fortunate in possessing two officers nounced in no uncertain terms the un- Those present were Mr. E. V. MR. who handled the situation brilliantly Eindness of Fate in dragging him against de Souza, Fresident of the Club, Mr E. Mr Fletcher and Mr. Kemp both of his will into a picture which was none of. Castro Albuquerque (Portuguese Consul), Going down Hill Road on Tuesday, a whom throughout the War period im his painting. In much the same way you Chevalier J. M. Alves, Mesars, Carlos dozioksha coolie lost control of bis ricksha, pressed the entire Commercial Community in Hongkong have been pitchforked into Roza, J. M. da Rocha, J. P. Brage, Hev in which he had a passenger, and the rick- “with their extraordinary ability and grasp, n situation which was certainly pot of Father Spada, Mestre AF. P. Silve she overturned near the public mortuary of the situation. In the present year Mr. your creating and for which you are not Netto, JBL Noronha BD. da Rozs, and the passenger was thrown out. The Fletcher had again acted for a time as in any way responsible. But you have J. M. C, Basto, E. F. M. Ozorio, and coolie, who received slight injuries to his Colonial Secretary, during a period of to remember that a new dation is being P..Y. Botelho, and a large gathering, ol | head and legs, was taken to the Govern- #pecial difficulty,

born in China;. China is in travail and other members of the Club.

#ment Civil Hospital,"

Near the 3 mile" post on the Kowloon- Canton Railway, a Chinese woman made an unsuccessful attempt to cross the line before an approaching train on Tuesday afternoon. She died a few hours later from the injuries. she received.

A Chinese, driving & motor-car along Queen's Road East on Tuesday, knocked down a Chinese who, raa across the road near Arsenal Street. The injured man was removed to the Government, Civil Hospital -

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