Directory_and_Chronicle_1915 — Page 1088

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HONGKONG

East Point and Happy Valley, and thence on to the village of Shaukiwan, a totali length of 9 miles. A cable tramway 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. Powers were obtained in 1908 for the making of another tramway to the Peak, starting from Battery Path and proceeding up the Glenealy Ravine to a point close to the terminus of the existing line, but owing to public opposition to two of the suggested routes the scheme was abandoned, the alternative routes, on which some tunnelling was necessary, proving too expensive.

INSTITUTIONS

There are several Clubs in the Colony. The principal are the Hongkong Club on the New Praya, the Club Germania in Kennedy Road (closed shortly after the outbreak of the great war), the Club Lusitano in Shelley Street, the Phoenix Club on the Praya, and the Nippon Club in Des Voeux Road. The Hongkong Club is a handsome building replete with every modern comfort; a large annexe was completed in 1902. The Peak Club is domiciled in a pretty building at Plunkett Gap, and possesses tennis and croquet lawns on land adjoining. There are also the United Services Recreation Club, Cricket Clubs, Football Clubs, a Polo Club, a Golf Club, a Hockey Club, a Chess Club, and two Yacht Clubs. 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 rooms in the Post Office Buildings 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 Institution of Marine Engineers watches over the interests of that profession. 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 in the month 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. Regattas are held in December in the harbour, but they do not evoke the same enthusiasm as the races. Athletic Sports are also held every year by the residents and the garrison, and occasionally swimming matches and boat races take place. There is a Philharmonic Society and also an Amateur Dramatic Club, the members of which give several performances in the Theatre Royal during the season. There are three large Chinese Theatres, where the Chinese drama is almost constantly on view.

There are four daily papers published in English: the Hongkong Daily Press and the South China Morning Post, which appear in the morning, the China Mail and the Hongkong Telegraph, issued in the evening. There are four weekly papers, the Hongkong Weekly Press and China Overland Trade Report, the Overland China Mail, South China Weekly Post and the Weekly Telegraph. The Directory and Chronicle for China, Japan, Straits Settlements, &c., has been issued annually since 1863 from the Daily Press Office. The native Press is represented by six daily papers-the Chung Ngoi San l'o, 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 Sai Kai Kung Yik Po, the Kung Wo Po' and the Tai Kwong Po. There is also a small Japanese paper called the Hongkong Nippo. The Government Gazette is published once a week.

There are several good hotels in Victoria, the leading ones in the city being the Hongkong Hotel, extending from Queen's Road

to Des Voeux Road, and the King Edward Hotel, situated in Des Voeux Road. The Peak Hotel is situated at Victoria Gap, about 1,400 feet above the sea, and provides residence for the late Mr. E. R. Belilios, C.M.G., but never occupied by him, has been A palatial building on Kennedy Road, erected as a converted into a private hotel, and named Kingsclere. On the other side of the harbour are the Royal George Hotel and the Station Hotel.

considerable accommodation.

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