Directory_and_Chronicle_1934 — Page 957

HONGKONG

A541

It stands just above the flight of steps giving entrance to the gardens from Albert Road, and is in every way a fitting memorial. The City Hall, erected in 1866-9 by subscription, contains a theatre, numerous large rooms used for balls and public meetings (in one of which, known as St. George's Hall, is a fine portrait of the late Queen Victoria, presented by the late Sir Thomas Jackson, Bart., in 1900), a Library and a Museum-both of which however, have a neglected appearance. Eastward of the City Hall is a fine open space or lung, in the shape of the Parade Ground, south of the road, and the Cricket Ground on the north. Here a new pavilion was erected in 1923 and extended in 1927.

The Post Office, an imposing building in which several other Government departments are accommodated, occupies a site with frontages on the Praya, Pedder Street and Des Voeux Road. The Court of Justice were designed by the late Sir Aston Webb and Mr. E. Ingress Bell, consulting architects to the Government of Great Britain. The foundation stone was laid in 1903 and the building was completed at a cost of $856,310 and opened in January, 1912. Immediately opposite on the seaward side and appropriately occupying what was long known as "the finest site," stands the Colony's War Memorial—a replica of the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London-which was unveiled by H.E. Sir R. E. Stubbs and dedicated to "The Glorious Dead" on Empire Day, 1923. The monuments, which is of granite, stands 35 ft. high. Occupying a site in the centre of Statue Square to the west of the Courts of Justice stands the Jubilee statue of H.M. Queen Victoria, the erection of which was postponed until this site became available; it was unveiled on the 28th May, 1896. The statue represents Queen Victoria seated on her throne, and is of bronze under a stone canopy. Close by, there was formerly a fine bronze statue of the Duke of Connaught, presented to the Colony by Sir Paul Chater. It was unveiled by Sir William Gascoigne on the 5th July, 1902. This statue was removed in February, 1907, to a site on the waterfront near Blake Pier, and H.R. H. the Duke of Connaught, who paid a second visit to the Colony, this time as In- spector-General of the Forces, on February 6th. 1907, unveiled, in what is now designated the Royal Square, a fine bronze statue of the late King Edward, presented by Sir Paul Chater, C.M. G., and one of H.M. King George, presented by Mr. James Jardine Bell-Irving. A statue of H. M. Queen Alexandra, sub- scribed for by the Community as a memorial of the Coronation of their Majesties in 1902, and one of H.M. Queen Mary, presented by the late Sir H. N. Mody, were placed in the same Square in 1909. Sir Paul Chater desired to add a statue of the Prince of Wales in commemoration of His Royal Highness's visit in April, 1922, but, at the Prince's request, the money ($50,000) was invested instead for the local branch of the British Legion and the Ex-Active Service Men's Association. Government House occupies a commanding situation, in picturesque grounds pleasingly laid out, a little above the European business centre. Victoria Gaol is a large structure, with its main entrance from Arbuthnot Road. A branch prison was opened at Lai-chi-kok, Kowloon, in 1920. The Police Barracks and new Central Station adjoin Victoria Gaol, as does the Magistracy, the reconstruction of which was practically completed at the close of 1914. An additional

An additional Magistracy was opened at Kowloon in

1924.

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A Reformatory was built and opened in 1900 at Causeway Bay, the cost of election formatory was built and opened in 1900 at Causeway Bay, the cost of erection being borne by the late Mr. E. R. Belilios, C.M.G.; but the idea having proved impracticable, the building was taken over by the French Convent. The Luna- tic Asylum consists of two small buildings, one for Europeans and the other for Chinese, below Bonham Road in the western part of the town. Adjacent is the Government Civil Hospital. The Alice Memorial Hospital is a useful and philanthropic institution; affiliated with it is the Nethersole Hospital on Bonham Road. The Royal Naval Hospital occupies a small eminence near Bowrington, and the Military Hospital, a fine range of buildings, completed in 1907, occupies a commanding site above Bowen Road. The Hongkong Uni- versity, a large and handsome building erected in a commanding position at