Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 998

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HONGKONG

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 tun- nelling was necessary, proving too expensive. The construction of a line from Wanchai to Mt. Caroline, giving access to new building sites on the higher levels, has been promised for several years past by the Government but though a sum of money was voted for the purpose by the Legislative Council in 1919 the projects has been shelved up to date on one pretext or another. A motor bus service to Repulse Bay is maintained by the Hongkong Hotel. An auto- matic telephone exchange was erected early in 1930 and the change over took place in May.

INSTITUTIONS

There are several Clubs in the Colony. The principal are the Hongkong Club on the Praya, the Club Lusitano in Ice House Street, the Phoenix Club on the Praya, and American, Dutch and Japanese Clubs. 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 build- ing at Plunkett Gap, and possesses tennis and croquet lawns on land adjoin- ing. There are also the United Services Recreation Club (Kowloon), the Club de Recreio, the Craigengower Cricket Club, the Civil Service Cricket Club, the Deutsche Club, the Filipino Club,

the Filipino Club, the Indian Recreation Club, the South China Athletic Association, the Chinese Athletic Association, the Chinese Recreation Club, the Victoria Recreation Club, the Royal Hongkong Yacht Club and the Hongkong Polo Club. The Royal Hongkong Golf Club has four courses, Happy Valley and Deep Water Bay (9 holes each) and Fanling (two 18 holes courses, the "new" and the "old"). There is a Hockey Club, a Chess Club, and a Yacht Club. The Club house of the recently inaugurated Hongkong Flying Club, was officially opened at Kai Tak on 31st May, 1930, by H. E. Sir William Peel, K.B.E., K.C.M.G., Governor of Hongkong. In 1928 the Sports Club housed in King's Building was opened by H.E. the Officer Administering the Government, the Hon. Mr. W. T. Southorn. The main object of this Club was that residents of all nationalities could meet socially. It has proved to be a great success. The Ladies' Recreation Club have several prettily laid-out tennis courts and a pavilion in their grounds on the Peak Road.

1920 and

The Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce have rooms in the Char- tered Bank Building. 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 of the China Association, with its separate Committee. A Chinese Chamber of Commerce was established in has since been of great service, not only to the Chinese merchants of Hong- kong but to Chinese merchants overseas. The Freemasons' Hall, erected in 1865, is situated in Zetland Street, and, by an arrangement concluded in 1922 at the suggestion of the parent Lodge, has now become the joint property of all the Lodges in the Colony. The Institution of Marine Engineers watches over the interests of that profession. The Hongkong Benevolent Society does good work among those who are occasionally cast destitute on the Colony. The Helena May Institute for Women, named after Lady May, situated in Garden Road, was opened on September 12th, 1916, and extended in 1922. January, 1930, a branch was opened in Kowloon by Lady Clementi. Among other institutions are the St. Andrew's Society, primarily established to ensure the fitting celebration of the anniversity of Scotland's patron saint; the St. George's Society, started in 1927; St. David's Society, St. Patrick's Society, the Kowloon Residents' Association, the English Association, the Mid-Levels Residents Association and the Peak Residents' Association.

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