Directory_and_Chronicle_1938 — Page 911

HONGKONG

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The first car ran through the City in 1904 amidst great excitement among the Chinese. The fares are at the flat rate of 10 cents first class and 5 cents second class.

There are also bus services both in the Colony and on the mainland, the former run by the South China Motor Bus Co. and the latter by the Kowloon Motor Bus Co. In the Colony the fare is 10 cents but in Kowloon, it is somewhat different, it being based on different sections of the journey. For the first section from Star Ferry to Yaumati-the fare for first class is 10 cents and 5 cents for third class. For the subsequent section the fares for both classes are increased by 5 cents, and so on. A motor bus service to Repulse Bay is maintained by the Hong Kong Hotel.

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.

INSTITUTIONS

There are numerous Clubs in the Colony. The principal are the Hongkong Club on the Praya, the Club Lusitano in Ice House Street, the Sport Club and the China Fleet Club on the Praya. The Hongkong Club is a handsome building replete with every modern comfort; а large annexe was completed in 1902. The Peak Club is domiciled in

is domiciled in a pretty building at Plunkett Gap, and possesses tennis and croquet lawns on land adjoining. There are also the Hong Kong Jockey Club, 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 Indian Recreation Club, the Ladies Recreation Club, the South China Athletic Association, the Chinese Athletic Association, the Chinese Recreation Club, the Victoria Recrea- tion Club, the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and the Hong Kong 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 are also Hockey Clubs, a Chess Club, and a Yacht Club. 1928 the Sports Club housed in King's Building was opened by H. E. the Officer Administering the Government, the Hon. Mr. (now Sir) William J. 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.

In

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 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 anniversary of Scotlard'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.