Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 985

HONGKONG

899

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 short space 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 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. Arising out of these catastro- phes there was an agitation for the provision of more adequate protection for small shipping than was afforded by the typhoon shelter at Causeway Bay, and, as a consequence, a new refuge was constructed at Mongkoktsui. This was completed in 1915. The worst typhoon since 1908 was that which struck the Colony on August 18th, 1923, when the wind attained the record velocity of 130 miles an hour. Considerable damage was done to shipping and to property on shore, especially at the Peak, but the loss of life was, fortunately, small. But for the fact that the typhoon was travelling very rapidly the results must have been much more serious. In the Spring of 1918 some 600 lives were lost in a fire which occurred during the race meeting at Happy Valley. The matsheds accommodating thousands of Chinese spectators col- lapsed and flames spread so rapidly that the people were burned to death before the eyes of their friends, who were powerless to render assistance.

Sir Matthew Nathan left the Colony in April, 1907, on promotion to the Governorship of Natal. His successor, Brigadier-General Sir Frederick Lugard, K.C.M.G.. arrived on July 28th, 1907, the Hon. Mr. (later Sir) F. H. May having again administered the Government in the interval. Falling revenue, while costly public works were in progress, obliged the Government in 1909 to break away from the free-trade traditions of the port to the extent of imposing import duties on intoxicating liquors. These duties were increased during the war and at the same time duties were imposed on tobacco Sir Frederick Lugard's chief monument in the Colony may be said to be the University. Mr. H N. Mody generously offered to provide buildings at an estimated cost of $280,000, and Sir Frederick Lugard worked indefatigably to secure an endowment fund of a million and a quarter dollars. When this fund was in sight, in 1909, building operations were commenced on a site in Bonham Road. Sir Frederick Lugard had the felicity of seeing the build- ing opened in March, 1912, just before he left on promotion to become Governor of Nigeria. Mr. Mody received a knighthood in recognition of his benefac- tions to the Colony.

Sir Henry May, K.C. M.G., was appointed to the Governorship of the Colony, and upon his arrival, on July 4th, a Chinese attempted his assassina- tion almost as soon as he had landed, but happily the attempt was frustrated. During his regime there was extensive road development on the Island and in the New Territory, the Tytam-Tuk waterworks were completed, the Helena May Institute in Garden Road was erected, and the funds were collected for the provision of a building for the Y.M.C.A. (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 con-

29*