10
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 9TH JANUARY, 1886.
12. In connection with our public establishments, I desire to place on pcord my high appreciation of the ability. diligence, and public spirit of the Heads of the chief Departments of Government who form the Executive Council; and of the faithful and efficient discharge of their duty by the Civil Service generally.
13. With regard to Legislation. there have been passed during my administration fifty-five Ordinances; many of which are additions of permanent value to the Statute-Book.
14. To sum up:
:-The reconstitution of this Council, with increased control over the management of the local affairs and taxation of the Colony--the extensive Works of Water-supply, Sanitation, and Defence:--the new Victoria College; the new Public Park; the reclamation of Causeway Bay together with many other important Public Works;-a large amount of useful and practical legislation; these must ever remain permanent monuments alike of my administration, and of your support. Whatever measure of success may have been gained by my Government, it could not have been achieved without your able, experienced, and hearty assistance. As I remarked once before, Governors and Legislatures should speak by their actions;" and it is confidently hoped that our united efforts will be found hereafter to have promoted the general welfare of all races and classes in this Colony.
Finally, in bidding you Farewell, I pray that you, Honourable Gentlemen, and the long line of your successors in this Council, may exercise your important functions through years of growing prosperity and happiness. During the brief period of forty-three years which have elapsed since this island, then barren and desolate, was erected into a British Colony, it has risen, by the blessing of Providence on the enterprise and energy of our race, to the proud position of the third greatest Mart of shipping in the British Empire, ranking next after London and Liverpool. If this city cannot boast the ancient historical associations of the great cities of the Mother-Country, it will be remembered that (as it has been truly observed), the lot cannot be considered otherwise than fortunate of those who have to make, instead of inheriting history.
The Honourable P. RYRIE then addressed His Excellency as follows:—
Your Excellency, I rise to move an address in reply to the eloquent address you have just given us. It gives me much pleasure to record that since you have been President of this Council your management of the public business of the colony has been such as I have never seen equalled in this chamber. I think that since we have had these regular meetings the business has gone on much more smoothly, and if anything happens we always meet again very soon and can put the matter straight. The Council has, during the whole of your time here, been a most harmonious one. Now and then there have been discussions; perhaps I myself have been the greatest disturber of the peace-but the other members of Council have taken my ebullitions very good naturedly, your Excellency especially. With these remarks, if your Excellency will allow me. I will read the address in reply:-- MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY.
We, the Members of the Legislative Council, have listened with great interest to your Excellency's review of the history and progress of public affairs during the term of your administration of this Government. This period, though shorter than a Governor's usual tenure of office. has been marked by events of the greatest interest to the communities in the Far East, and more especially to the com- munity of this Colony. We agree with your Excellency as to the undoubted usefulness of a glance at the past, which is too apt, under the continuous pressure of business, to be forgotten in the absorbing interests of the present.
2. Your Excellency's administration will always be associated in our minds with much personal kindness, consideration, and hospitality, as well as with the memory of a constant and assiduous attention to facilitating the course of public business.
3. We are glad of this opportunity of acknowledging the great services your Excellency has rendered to the cause of good government in this Colony by your successful efforts towards a larger and fairer representation of its community, and a more effective control of our finances. We have lately learned with pleasure the progress made in our greatest public work, the extensive scheme for improving the water-supply of the city. We cannot but regard with satisfaction the rapid and indeed wonderful development of this Colony, both during the past forty years and as it is proceeding at present and we are happy to think that the day is not far distant when the defences of Hongkong may be considered commensurate with the magnitude of the interests to be protected. We join with your Excellency in the fervent hope that the public works commenced, and the changes inaugurated during your administration will bear ample fruit in the future to the permanent benefit of the Colony.
4. We rejoice that a tedious and desolating war has been brought to a close, and the difficult questions raised by it happily terminated. We congratulate your Excellency on the success with which you maintained the difficult attitude of neutrality during the serious crisis forced on this Colony by conflicting interests of international importance.
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