Directory_and_Chronicle_1931 — Page 1095

HONGKONG

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(European branch). He retired in the early part of 1919 owing to ill-health while on a vacation in British Columbia, and died on February 6th, 1922, at Clare, Suffolk. In recognition of his 38 years' service to the Colony, a life-size statue in bronze, showing him seated in a chair wearing his uniform and decorations, was erected by public subscription in Statue Square, facing the Harbour, and was unveiled by his successor, Sir R. E. Stubbs on May 3rd, 1923. Sir Reginald Stubbs arrived when finances were in a satisfactory condition and he was the first to propose the raising of local loans for public works. This idea however found little favour during his period of office and was never put into force. His government was marked by the progress made in the transfer of military lands, in port and harbour development, water supply schemes, improved means of communication and town planning. Sir R. E. Stubbs was suc- ceeded as Governor by Sir Cecil Clementi, K.C.B., in the autumn of 1925 when the strike was in progress.

It is too early yet to estimate the value of Sir Cecil Clementi's work as Governor of Hongkong. It was not of the usual kind. It did not express itself in roads, typhoon shelters and buildings, as did that of Sir Reginald Stubbs, but his memorial is to be found in the hearts of the Chinese people.

He succeeded to the governorship at a time then the exchequer was depleted and the state of feeling between the English and Chinese was very embittered. It was his work to heal this breach and his function to restore harmony, which an interchange of friendly visits in March 1928 between Sir Cecil and Marshall Li Tsai- hsin did much to accomplish. Two acts of his had a tremendous bearing on this problem, the appointment of a Chinese member to the Executive Council and of a third Chinese member to the Legislative Council.

No spectacular public works mark Sir Cecil's term of office but there was a steady development both on the island and on the mainland. On the island the most not- able achievement was the completion of the Praya East Reclamation Scheme, while in Kowloon the construction of what will be a model city of vast dimensions pro- gressed year by year as hill after hill was cut down and used to level in insanitary depressions and extend the deep sea frontage.

A notable innovation was the construction of a spacious aerodrome near Kow- loon city, and the inception of Hongkong Flying Club. With regard to water- works the Shing Mun Valley Scheme whereby water is now conveyed from the Shing Mun River right across the harbour to Hongkong, was carried to a successful conclusion in March, 1930. The Medical and Sanitary services of the Colony were inatters of great concern to Sir Cecil Clementi and very considerable advances were made in this direction.

During his administration Sir Cecil adopted a policy of paying for large public works by means of local loans, thus freeing current revenue for necessary though smaller improvements.

The establishment of a Language School at Hongkong University will always be associated with his name, and his deep interest in and the support he gave to the University and learning in general will long be remembered.

Among other landmarks in the period when Sir Cecil Clementi was Governor of Hongkong are the visit in 1929 of the Japanese first battle squadron, and that of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, in the same year.

His term of office was sadly marked by a series of piracies, in which the pirates became more and more daring and some real epics of the sea were enacted. The first piracy of any magnitude during Sir Cecil Clementi's time was that of the Tung Chow in December 1925 which yielded a haul for the pirates of $40,000. The follow- ing October came the news of the pirating of the Hsin Fung with a haul of $45,000, to be followed in November 1926 by that of the Sunning. The story of the Sunning piracy will long be remembered in the China Seas. After a desperate fight the ship was recaptured by her officers. In revenge the pirates set the vessel on fire before leaving her. Eleven pirates were killed and several of the officers wounded. Two days later came the pirating of the Hanoi which yielded $70,000 and in the same month that of the Wai Hoi during which seven Maryknoll sisters were shut up in a tiny stateroom for over sixty hours.

The tale for the years 1927 and 1928 is a particularly black one. In March 1927 the China merchants Hop Sang was pirated and taken to Bias Bay. In the

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