719486-1862-GOVERNMENT-NOTIFICATION-NO-75 — Page 1

+

906

No. 75.

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 12TM JULY, 1862.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION,

The subjoined Addresses presented to His Excellency SIR HERCULES ROBINSON on the eve of his departure for England are published together with His Excellency's replies thereto.

By Order,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 12th July, 1862.

W. H. ALEXANDER,

Acting Colonial Secretary.

Address of the Members of the Legislative Council.

To HIS EXCELLENCY

SIR HERCULES GEORGE ROBERT ROBINSON,

Governor of Hongkong.

We, the undersigned, Members of the Legislative Council of Hongkong, beg leave to assure Your Excellency, on the eve of your departure for Europe, of the high respect and esteem with which we regard Your Excellency, and of our earnest hope that you may enjoy a safe and pleasant

voyage.

In the three years during which Your Excellency has been Governor of Hongkong, the Colony has advanced rapidly in wealth and population-public works of great importance have been commenced and carried on-extensive changes, having for their object the security and wel- fare of the inhabitants generally, have been made in our laws and institutions---and all these things have been done without pecuniary aid from the Home Government. The Finances of the Colony are in a sound and prosperous condition, notwithstanding the greatly increased expenditure, and the various departments of the Government all work harmoniously together.

We earnestly hope that Your Excellency will derive renewed health and strength from your temporary sojourn in Europe, and we venture to assure Your Excellency that it will afford us great pleasure, whilst we now wish you "God speed" on your departure, to meet Your Ex- cellency again in this Council Chamber, there to renew those relations which have existed between us for a period of very nearly three years, to the advantage, we trust, of the community of this Island.

Council Chamber, 3rd July, 1862.

W. H. ADAMS, C.J.

W. H. ALEXANDER. JOHN SMALE.

W. H. RENNIE.

CHAS. ST. GEORGE CLEVERLY. FRANCIS CHOMLEY.

C. W. MURRAY.

W. T. MERCER, 8th July, 1862. ALEX. PERCEVAL, 9th July, 1862.

The Governor's Reply.

GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

I thank you most sincerely for this expression of your kind feelings upon my approaching departure, and for the gratifying assurance you convey to me of your respect and esteem.

The last three years have indeed, as you observe, been marked by the rapid growth of the Colony in wealth and population and by a corresponding increase in all the sources of revenue. These altered circumstances have called for, and at the same time supplied the means of carrying out, those public undertakings and incasures to which you have referred, and whatever good may result from them I shall attribute it to the advice and assistance I have at all times received from you, and to the action of a united Legislature.

Although for a short time removed from personal intercourse with you I shall continue to watch over your progress with unabated anxiety-fervently praying that the blessing of the Almighty may direct your Councils and prosper your cfforts to secure the permanent welfare of the Colony.

冷!