Directory_and_Chronicle_1920 — Page 1017

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938

HONGKONG

with that of Minister Plenipotentiary and Superintendent of British Trade in China. During his administration various public works were carried out, and the Bowrington Canal constructed. In September, 1859, Sir Hercules Robinson arrived and assumed the administration. In 1860 the peninsula of Kowloon was placed under British control, and soon afterwards became a great camp, the English and French troops of the Allied Expeditionary Force being for some time quartered there. The principal work effected during the government of Sir Hercules Robinson was the construction of the original Praya wall, in connection with which an extensive reclamation of land from the sea was inade. Prior to that time the marine lot-holders had the entire control of the sea frontage of their lots, and no public road properly speaking, existed along the water frontage. In 1862 a Clock Tower (demolished as a hindrance to traffic in 1913) was completed, and the Hongkong Mint was erected, but owing to the loss attending the working of this institution it was closed early in 1864, the plant being sold to Japan and re-erected at Osaka. In March, 1865, Sir Hercules Robinson left the Colony, and Mr. Mercer, Colonial Secretary, became Acting Governor until the arrival, in March, 1866, of Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell. In November, 1867, a great fire occurred, which swept the whole district between the Queen's Road and the Praya, from the Cross Roads to the Harbour Master's Office. During Sir Richard MacDonnell's vigorous administration the revenue of the Colony, which had fallen much below the expenditure, was augmented by the imposition of the stamp duties and other measures. One of His Excellency's last official acts was to preside at the opening, in February, 1872, of the Tung Wa (Chinese) Hospital. In April, 1872, Sir Arthur Kennedy arrived and assumed the reins of Government, which he held with such tact and dexterity that he acquired the title of "Good Sir Arthur," and a bronze statue of him was erected in the Public Gardens. Under his administration the Colony prospered, but the year 1874 was made memorable in Colonial annals by one of the most destructive typhoons which chad down to that time visited it, causing enormous damage and great loss of life. Their peaceful reign of Sir Arthur Kennedy was followed by the stormy administration of Sir John Pope Hennessy, who arrived in April, 1877, and left in March, 1882. In this interval the trade of the Colony increased greatly and Governor Hennessy accumu lated a large surplus, but public works made little progress, the Breakwater at Cause- way Bay being the principal work completed during his administration, while the Observatory was projected. On Christmas Day, 1878, a fire broke out in the Central District of Victoria which destroyed 368 houses and entailed enormous loss on the .community. On Sir John's departure Sir William (then Mr.) Marsh, the Colonial Secretary, assumed the Government, and affairs proceeded placidly until the arrival in March, 1883, of Sir George Bowen. His advent was the signal for great activity in the prosecution of public works, amongst others being the Tytam Waterworks, the Victoria College, the Lunatic Asylum, the Observatory, and the enlargement of the Government Civil Hospital. He was also the means of securing to the residents the privilege of nominating two of the unofficial members of the Legislative Council. Sir George Bowen left Hongkong on the 19th December, 1885, and another interregnum followed Mr. Marsh administered the Government until April, 1887, when he retired from th service, and Major-General Cameron assumed the reins until the arrival of Governop Sir William G. Des Voeux in October of the same year. The Colony steadily progressed though naturally with some fluctuations in its prosperity, until in 1889, when, writing. to the Secretary of State on its condition and prospects, Sir William Des Voeu was able to remark, with obvious satisfaction:-"It may be doubted whether th evidences of material and moral achievement, presented as it were in a focus, mak anywhere a more forcible appeal to eye and imagination, and whether any other spoo on the earth is thus more likely to excite, or much more fully justifies, pride in th name of Englishman." After that date a period of deep depression, arising part from the fluctuations of exchange, partly from over-speculation, and partly fro other causes, was experienced, and continued for five years. Sir William De Vœux resigned the Government on the 7th May, 1891, and, in the absence of th Colonial Secretary, Major-General Digby Barker was sworn in as Acting Governo Sir William Robinson was appointed Governor and arrived in the Colony on th 10th December, 1891. The year 1894 will be memorable in the annals of th Colony as the most disastrous year of the plague. This disease, which is endema in Yunnan, and some years previously had appeared at Pakhoi, made i appearance that year at Canton, and from there was introduced to Hongkong. T Colony was. declared infected on the 10th May, and the mortality rapidly increase until at one time it reached more than a hundred a day. Energetic measures we