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THE HONGKONG
Government Gazette.
No. 7.
Published by Authority.
VICTORIA, SATURDAY, 16TH FEBRUARY, 1878.
THE TUNG WAH HOSPITAL, HONGKONG.
VOL. XXIV.
The following account of His Excellency The Governor's Visit to the Tung Wah Hospital on the 8th February, 1878, is extracted from the report of the China Mail, for general information.
THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO THE TUNG WAH HOSPITAL.
His Excellency Governor POPE HENNESSY, C.M.G., paid a ceremonial visit to the Tung Wah Hospital on the 8th of February at 3 o'clock. Early in the afternoon, the crowded streets leading to the Hospital were kept clear by a detachment of Police, composed of Europeans, Sikhs and Chinese, and the full force of the District Watchmen for this District. It was no easy matter to clear the way, as at the time of the Chinese New Year festivities the strects are unusually crowded, and the three Chinese Theatres, all in this locality, were in full swing. About 2.30 P.M. a guard of honour from the 74th Regiment, with the Regimental Band, arrived, and lined the road leading up to the Hospital. Shortly after 3 P.M., His Excellency arrived, accompanied by Mr. CREAGH, acting A.D.C., and Private Secretary NORTHCOTE; and Admiral HILLYAR, accompanied by Secretary PARISH and Flag-Lieutenant WILLOUGHBY, preceded a few minutes before by Dr. MowLL, formerly of H. M. S. Vigilant. Among the foreign visitors present to witness the ceremony, were Mr. HAYLLAR, Q.C., Rev. Dr. E. J. EITEL, Mr. J. J. FRANCIS, and Mr. D'ALMADA. The Chinese community was very fully represented, there being present nearly 300 influential native residents from all classes of the community; and of those present some 50 or 60 were in their Mandarin costumes, some with blue buttons, some with crystal, and some with gold buttons; while a few had the additional honour of wearing the peacock's feather, Among those in uniform, we observed: Messrs. LEONG ON, CHUN TING CHEE, KWOK ACHEONG, CHEANG SING YEONG, LING Ho WOON, WONG YIK PAN, WAI AKWONG, NG CHOY, CHUN AYIN, FUNG MING SHAN, WONG KWAN TONG, NG SANG, WONG SHING, NG CHEUK CHEE, and others. On the arrival of His Excellency and party, the Band of H.M. 74th Regiment struck up a familiar strain; while as the Governor and party entered, a salute of three guns was fired and some Chinese music was performed. Those of the Chinese who were in uniform then placed themselves in two lines from the door up to the Hall, and saluted the Governor and Admiral in proper Chinese style. His Excellency was then conducted to the top of an oblong table, with Admiral HILLYAR on his right and Dr. MowLL on his left. After all were seated, tea, and refreshments in the shape of confectionery were brought in. This over, the Governor and party were conducted through the patients' wards, and then back to the
Hall.
Mr. NG CHOY, then rose and said:-Your EXCELLENCY AND GENTLEMEN,-I have been asked to be spokesman on this occasion, and I have accepted that honour with very great pleasure, though I think there may be more competent persons present to undertake the task. In the first place I have been requested to thank Your Excellency, for your kind visit here to-day, on behalf of the Chinese community of Hongkong. We are here to receive and welcome Your Excellency in this hall. I may be permitted to say that we have represented every class of the Chinese community. The gentlemen here represent the Committee of this Hospital, Merchants, Compradores, Shopkeepers, and, in fact, every trade and profession in this Colony. We have thought it advisable to commit what we have to say on this occasion to writing, and to consider it well before doing so. That being the case, Your Excellency may take this address, which we shall have the honour to present to you, as expressing not only our own views, who are here, but the unanimous sentiment of the Chinese community. This address is in two parts; one part is in Chinese and the other part is in English. The latter is a free translation of the first, and, with Your Excellency's permission, we shall read the Chinese part first, and then I shall follow by reading the English part. I will now call upon my Chinese friend, to read the Chinese part.
Mr. WONG KWAN TONG then read the address in Chinese,
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