Directory_and_Chronicle_1912 — Page 1328

1036

HONGKONG

The approaches to the port are fairly well lighted. A lighth Island lights the western entrance of the harbour. The eastern approa by a group flashing dioptric light of the first order, visible at twenty-two miles, erected on Waglan Island, while a smaller light on ( assists navigators to make the Ly-ec-mùn Pass. A lighthouse on Ga thirty miles to the south, was completed and first displayed its head April, 1892; it is connected with the port by cable, and the approac signalled from it to the Post Office.

The harbour of Hongkong is one of the finest and most beautifu having an area of ten square niiles, and, with its diversified scenery and y presents an animated and imposing spectacle. It consists of the sheet of the island and the mainland, and is enclosed on all sides by lofty destitute of foliage, but the island slopes are gradually becoming cloth forests, the result of the afforestation scheme of the Government The cit magnificently situated, the houses, many of them large and handsome, r tier, from the water's edge to a height of over five hundred feet on the fi while many buildings are visible on the very summit of the hills. water at night, when lights twinkle among the trees and houses, the along the shore for upwards of four miles, affords a sight not readily tol Nor on landing are the favourable impressions of the stranger dissipat The city is fairly well built, the roads and streets are for the most part a and kept, and many of the thoroughfares delightfully shaded with we The European business quarter occupies the middle of the eity, f Street to the Naval Yard, but with the exception of this limited area lower levels, especially the Western District, are covered by a dense n shops and teneinents. The Botanic Gardens are situated just abov House, and are tastefully laid out in terraces, slopes, and walks, wit flowers. A handsome fountain adorns the second terrace, around whichn children and their amals resort daily. There is a bandstand, presented community (but never now occupied by a band), some aviaries, orci ferneries, and seats are provided în every spot where a view is obtain afforded by the varied foliage. A tine bronze statue of Sir Arthur Kent of the Colony. 1872-6, erected by public subscription, stands above the looking down on the fountain. It was unveiled in November, 1887, by Williain Des Voeux. The chief public building is the City Hall, erect subscription: it contains an elegant theatre, numerous large rooms used public incetings (in one of which known as St. George's Hall, is a tine late Queen Victoria, presented by Sir Thomas Jackson, Bart., in 1900), ai valuable Library, and a Museum gradually increasing in importance. I main entrance is a large fountain presented in August, 1864, by Mr. John merchant of the Colony. Eastward of the City Hall is a fine open in the shape of the Parade Ground south of the road, and the Cricl the north. The latter is furnished with a neat Pavilion, and the t perfect order.

The Post Office, a palatial building in which several other departments are accommodated, occupies a site with frontages on the Street and Des Voeux Road. The Courts of Justice, opened in January, 19 near the cricket ground, and probably is the most substantially built Occupying a site on the west of the New Law Courts stand statue of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the erection of which was p this site became available; it was unveiled on the 28th May, 1896, presents Queen Victoria in a sitting posture and is of bronze under a Close by, formerly stood a fine bronze statue of the Duke of ConÐAU by Sir C. P. Chater to the Colony. It was unveiled by Sir Willi on the 5th July, 1902. This statue was removed in February, 1907, the waterfront near Blake Pier, and H. R. H. the Duke of Connauj a second visit to the Colony, this time as Inspector-General of t February 6th, 1907, unveiled, in what may in future be designated the F fine bronze statue of H. M. the King, presented by Sir Paul Chater, c of H. R. H. the Prince of Wales, presented by Mr. James Jardine Bell-Irv of H. M. Queen Alexandra, subscribed for by the Community as a memorial tion of their Majesties in 1902, and one of H. R. H. the Princess of W by the late Sir H. N. Mody, were placed in the same Square in 1909, and ceremony, by H. E. Sir Frederick Lugard, formed a prominent feature