Directory_and_Chronicle_1912 — Page 1324

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HONGKONG

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was opened by Sir Henry May, who was then administering the Govern- ment in the absence on leave of H. E. Sir Frederick Lugard. The Chinese section, 89 miles in length, was completed at the end of September, 1911, when through railway communication was established. The year 1906 will be remembered in the history of the Colony by two calamitous events. On September 18th, a typhoon struck the Colony with terrific force and with such disastrous results as to give it rank as the worst typhoon that the Colony has ever experienced. The Observatory was able to give but very short notice of its approach. The typhoon lasted only two hours, and it was roughly estimated that in that of time 10,000 persons lost their lives in the vicinity of the Colony, while the damage done to shipping and property ashore ran into many millions of dollars. A list, admittedly incomplete, compiled by the Harbour Authorities, showed sunk or damaged 67 large vessels, 652 junks, 54 lighters, and 70 launches. No account is taken in this list of the hundreds of sampans which were sunk or battered to pieces against the sea walls. The Rt. Rev. J. C. Hoare, D.D., the Bishop of Victoria, was among those who lost their lives by this calamity. The second of the disasters referred to above occurred early on Sunday morning, October 14th, when the river steamer Hankow, while lying at her wharf, was completely gutted by a fire which developed with such extraordinary rapidity that over 100 Chinese passengers lost their lives in trying to escape. The majority of them were drowned; but many, who were probably first suffocated or trampled to death in the rush for the gangway, were victims of the flames. The Colony was visited by another typhoon of greater force on the night of July 27-28, 1908, but the Observatory gave timely warning of the approach, and shipping consequently did not suffer so badly as in the 1906 typhoon, but much more extensive damage was done to property ashore. The most serious shipping casualty was the foundering of the Yingking with a loss of some 424 lives.

Sir Matthew Nathan left the Colony in April, 1907, on promotion to the Governor- ship of Natal. Few Governors of the Colony have succeeded in making themselves so popular, and at the same time won so much confidence and respect as an administrator. His successor, Brigadier-General Sir Frederick Lugard, K.C.M.G., arrived on July 28th, 1907, the Hon. Mr. (now Sir) F. H. May having again administered the Government in the nterval. Falling revenue, while costly public works were in progress, obliged the govern- ment in 1909 to break away from the free-trade traditions of the port to the extent of mposing import duties on intoxicating liquors. The name of Sir Frederick Lugard will remain noteworthy in the annals of the Colony on account of his successful labours o secure the establishment of a University. Mr. H. N. Mody generously offered o provide buildings at an estimated cost of $280,000, and an endowment fund mounting to nearly a million and a quarter dollars having been raised in 1909, building operations were commenced on a site in Bonham Road. Good progress is being nade with the building. Mr. Mody received a knighthood in recognition of his benefactions to the Colony.

The following is a list of those who have administered the Government from the late on which the Island was erected into a Colony-

843 Sir Henry Pottinger, Bart., G.C.B. 844 Sir John Francis Davis, Bart., K.C.B. 848 Samuel George Bonham, c.B. 851 Major-General W. Jervois (Lt.-Governor) 851 Sir S. George Bonham, Bart., K.C.B. 852 John Bowring, LL.D. (Acting) 853 Sir S. George Bonham, Bart., K.C.B. 854 Sir John Bowring, Knt., LL.D. 854 Lieut.-Colonel Win. Caine (Lt.-Governor) 855 Sir John Bowring, Knight, LL.D. 859 Colonel Caine (Lieut.-Governor) 859 Sir Hercules G. R. Robinson, Knight 862 William Thomas Mercer (Acting) 864 Sir Hercules G. R. Robinson, Knight 865 William Thomas Mercer (Acting) 866 Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell, Knt., C.B. 870 Mj.-GI. H. W. Whitfield (Lt.-Governor) 971 Sir Richard G. MacDonnell, к.C.M.G., C.B. 872 Sir Arthur E. Kennedy, K.C.M.G.,C.B. 375 John Gardiner Austin (Administrator) 376 Sir Arthur E. Kennedy, K.C.M.G., C.B.

1877 Sir John Pope Hennessy, K.C.M.G. 1882 Wm. Hy. Marsh, c.M.G. (Administrator) 1883 Sir George Ferguson Bowen, G.C.M.G. 1885 Wm. Hy. Marsh, c.M.G. (Administrator) 1887 Mjr.-Gen. W. G. Cameron, c.B. (Adminis.) 1887 Sir George William Des Vœux, K.C.M.G. 1890 Francis Fleming, c.M.G. (Administrator) 1890 Sir George William Des Vœux, K.C.M.G. 1891 Mjr.-Gen. G. Digby Barker, c.B. (Adm.) 1891 Sir William Robinson, G.C M.G. 1898 Mj.-Gl. Wilsone Black, c.B. (Admiur.) 1898 Sir Henry Arthur Blake, a.c.x.G. 1902 Mj.-Gen. Sir W. Gascoigne, к.C.м.¤. (Ådr.) 1902 Sir Henry Arthur Blake, G.c.M.G. 1903 Francis H. May, C.M.G. (Administrator) 1904 Sir Matthew Nathan, K.C.M.G. 1906-7 Hon. F.H.May,c.M.G.,Adʼtor. (for1month) 1907 Sir Matthew Nathan, K,C.M.G. 1907 Hon. F. H. May c.M.G. (Administrator) 1907 Brigadier-Gen. Sir F. D. Lugard, x.c.M.O. 1909-10 Sir H. May, KC M.G. (Administrator)