Directory_and_Chronicle_1902 — Page 894

HONGKONG

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Shaukiwan has been sanctioned and will probably be started this year. A cable tram- way has since 1888 given access to the Peak, and is worked with great success, both financially and otherwise. The City terminus of this interesting little line is at St. John's Place.

INSTITUTIONS

There are several Clubs in the Colony. The principal are the Hongkong Club on the New Praya, the Club Germania in Wyndham Street, and the Club Lusitano in Shelley Street. The Hongkong Club is a handsome building replete with every modern comfort. The Club Germania will shortly be housed in a fine new building on Kennedy Road, now in course of erection. The Peak Club will also during the current year be moved into new premises at Plunket's Gap. There are also the Victoria Recreation Club, which possesses Bath and Boat houses and Gymnasium, at Kowloon, a Cricket Club, a Football Club, a Polo Club, a Golf Club, a Hockey Club, a Rifle Assocation, and a Yacht Club. The Ladies' Recreation Club have several prettily laid out tennis. courts and a pavilion in their grounds on the Peak Road.

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. There is a branch here of the China Association, with its separate Committee. The Freemasons' Hall, erected in 1865, is situated in Zetland Street, and belongs to the parent lodge, the Zetland. The Sailors' Home occupies a site at West Point, and there is a Mission to Seamen. The British Mercantile Marine Officers Association and the Institution of Marine Engineers have been formed and watch over the interests of those professions. This institution has premises in Des Voeux Road. The Hongkong Benevolent Society does good work among the indigent waifs occasionally cast destitute on the Colony. Among other institutions is the St. Andrew's Society, primarily established to ensure the fitting celebration of the anniversary of Scotland's patron saint whose memory is annually honoured by a Ball.

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. Gymkhanas also take place monthly during the summer. 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. There are two large Chinese Theatres, where the Chinese drama is pretty constantly on view. The Tung Hing Theatre, which was only completed and opened in 1892, is a fine building constructed on modern principles, and with special regard to the safety of the auditors.

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 are two weekly papers, the Hongkong Weekly Press and China Overland Trade Report and the Overland China Mail. The Chronicle and Directory for China, Japan, Straits Settlements, &c., appears annually, published 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 four 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 Trun Wan Yat Po, and the Wai Sun Yat Po. There is a Portuguese weekly paper called O Porvir. The Govern- ment Gazette is published once a week.

There are several good hotels in Victoria. The principal one in the city is the Hongkong Hotel, close to the Clock Tower, and extending from the Praya to Queen's Road, a lofty and spacious building, containing upwards of 150 rooms. The Peak Hotel is situated at Victoria Gap, about 1,400 feet above the sea, and provides consider- able accommodation. There are two Hotels at Kowloon, both situated at Tsim-tsa-tsui.

INDUSTRIES

Manufactures are yearly increasing in importance. There are three large sugar refineries: the China Sugar Refining Co's establishments at East Point and at Bowring- ton, and the Taikoo Sugar Refinery at Quarry Bay. In connection with the first-named Company there is also a large Distillery, where a considerable quantity of rum is manu- factured. There is an Ice Factory at Bowrington, a large Rope Factory in Belcher's Bay,

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