Directory_and_Chronicle_1933 — Page 1074

974

HONGKONG

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.

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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 Committce. A Chinese Chamber of Commerce was established in 1920 and 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. In 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., a ↑

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Under the auspices of the Hongkong Jockey Club pony racing is con- ducted in the Colony. The annual meeting which lasts five days is generally arranged to take place about a fortnight after Chinese New Year. After the annual meeting a number of "extra" meetings are held, there being about twenty race days in the year not including the annual meeting. Steeple- chasing was introduced into the Colony a few years ago and the meetings of the Fanling Hunt Club are now very popular. One meeting a month is held except during July and August when it is too hot for racing.

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Athletic sports are held every year by the residents and the garrison and great interest is shown by the public. Football is far and away the most popular form of sport as it has in recent years got a grip on the Chinese public. In summer swimming sports are held at. regular intervals at the Vic- toria Recreation Club and at a number of Chinese swimming clubs at North Point. Water Polo is fast becoming the most popular form of summer sport. There is a Philharmonic Society (resuscitated in 1922) and also an Amateur Dramatic Club, the members of which give occasional performances in the Theatre Royal, during the season. Several large and well equipped theatres showing talking pictures and three large Chinese Theatres, where the Chinese drama is almost constantly on view, are always well attended.

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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 three weekly papers-the Hongkong. Weekly Press and China: Trade Report, the Overland China Mail, and

Herald.: The Directory and Chronicle for China, Japan,' : Malaya,

doc., has been issued annually since 1863 from the Daily Press Office. The native Press consists of about a dozen papers. 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 and The Gloucester a fine modern building opened in 1932. The Peak Hotel is situated about 1,400 feet above sea-level,