Directory_and_Chronicle_1891 — Page 594

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HONGKONG

now an ordinary school. A small chapel is attached. The college is the residence of the Bishop of Victoria, who is its warden.

The Protestant, Roman Catholic, Parsee, Jewish, and Mahomedan Cemeteries occupy sites in Wong-nai Chung Valley, and are kept in good order. The principal Chinese cemetery is on the slopes of Mount Davis, near the Pokfolum Road, and is dismally bare and injudiciously crowded. The Protestant Cemetery is almost a rival to the Public Gardens, being charmingly situated and admirably laid out with fountain, flower beds, and ornamental shrubs,

INSTITUTIONS.

There are several Clubs in the Colony. The principal are the Hongkong Club, in Queen's Road opposite to the Post Office; the Club Germania in Wyndham Street, and the Lusitano Club in Shelley Street, There are also the Victoria Recreation Club, which possesses Bath and Boat houses and Gymnasium on the Praya near the Cricket Ground, a Cricket Club, a Football Club, a Polo Club, Racquet Club, and Golf Club, a Rifle Association, and a Yacht Club; and an Athletic Club, now in process of formation, intends to lay out a large piece of ground at Bowrington for tem.is courts, running tracks, etc. The Ladies Recreation Club have several prettily laid out tennis courts and a Pavilion in their grounds on the Peak Road, just above the Service Reservoir.

The Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce have a room in the City Hall, and meet annually. The Committee form its executive, and the Chamber is frequently asked by the Government for its opinion on questions affecting commerce. The Freemasons are a numerous body, having no less than nine lodges. The Freemasons Hall, erected in 1865, is situated in Zetland Street, and belongs to the parent lodge, the Zetland. There is also a lodge of Good Templars. The Sailors Home occupies a site on the Praya at West Point, and there is a Mission to Seamen. The British Mercantile Marine Officers Association and the Institution of Marine Engineers have both recently been formed. The Hongkong Benevolent Society has lately come into existence, and does good work among the indigent waifs occasionally cast destitute on the Colony, Among other institutions not previously mentioned are the St. Andrew's Society, primarily established to ensure the fitting celebration of the anniversary of Scotland's patron saint; the Hongkong Sketching Club, and the Horticultural Society.

The annual races are held at the latter end of February, under the auspices of the Hongkong Jockey Club, on the Race Course in Wong-nai Chung Valley at the east end of the town, a beautiful spot enclosed by fir-clad hills. On this occasion the whole colony makes holiday, and the stands and course are crowded with one of the most motley collections of humanity to be seen in any part of the world. A regatta is held in December in the harbour, but it does not evoke the same enthusiasm as the races. Athletic Sports are also got up every year by the residents and the garrison, and occasionally swimming matches and boat races take place. There is an Amateur Dramatic Club, the members of which give several performances in the City Hall Theatre during the season; the Choral Society also provides a series of entertainments; and the Musical Club gives occasional concerts.

There are three daily papers published in English: the Hongkong Daily Press, which appears in the morning, the China Mail and the Hongkong Telegraph, issued in the evening. There is a weekly paper, the Overland China Mail, and one fortnightly paper, which is published on the morning of the departure of the English mail, namely, the China Overland Trade Report (the commercial journal of the Far East). Á mail issue of the Daily Press is also printed weekly. The Chronicle and Directory for China, Japan, Straits Settlements, c., appears annually, and is printed at the Daily Press office. The China Review, which is devoted to reviews and papers on Chinese topics, is published once every two months. The native Press is represented by five daily papers-the Chung Ngoi San Po, which is the oldest and most influential, published at the Daily Press Office; the Wa Tsz Yat Po, or Chinese Mail; the Tsun Wan Yat Po, the Yut Po, and the Wai San Yat Po. The Government Gazette is published once a week.

There are several good hotels in Victoria. They are, the Hongkong Hotel, close to the Clock Tower and extending from the Praya to Queen's Road. It will contain, when the new wing is completed, 150 rooms; the Victoria Hotel, facing the Queen's Road and the Praya; the Stag Hotel, in Queen's Road; all of which are centrally situated. There is also the Kowloon Hotel on the opposite side of the water. A large and handsome hotel at the Peak near the Tramway torminus-the Peak Hotel- was completed in 1890, and another, the Austin Arms, near Victoria Peak, is approaching completion and will be opened this year.