1893-07-05 — Page 1

PRESENT —

( 102 )

5TH JULY, 1893.

air can make her." If report is true she would seem fully

His Excellency the Governor, Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.

Hon. G. T. M. O'BRIEN, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary. Hon. W. M. GOODMAN, Attorney-General. Hon. N. G. MITCHELL-INNES, Colonial Treasurer. Hon. F. A. COOPER, Director of Public Works. Hon. C. P. CHATER.

Hon. HO KAI.

Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD.

Hon. J. J. KESWICK.

Hon. E. R. BELILIOS.

Mr. A. SETH,Clerk of Councils.

THE ROYAL MARRIAGE—A CONGRATULATORY TELEGRAM.

HIS EXCELLENCY said—Gentlemen, I am afraid that it may have been rather inconvenient to some of you to attend this special meeting this morning, but I will not detain you very long, and I am quite sure that you will not begrudge the few minutes that you will remain here when I tell you, as perhaps you already know, that the object of this special meeting is to consider the propriety of sending some congratulatory message to Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family in reference to the approaching marriage of His Royal Highness the Duke of York and Her Serene Highness the Princess Victoria of Teck. His Royal Highness is known to many gentlemen in the colonies, and probably to some in this colony also. It is a little more than two years ago that I had the honour of entertaining him at Government House, Trinidad. I think that we all know that he is possessed of the most charming manner, amiable characteristics, and manly qualities. (Hear, hear) In all probability he will be the future King of England, and we all hope that he will be a worthy successor not only to his father but to Her Majesty the Queen, who has occupied the throne of Great Britain so incomparably for over fifty years. In regard to Her Serene Highness the Princess Victoria, We know that she is a charming English girl, danghter, of one the most popular Princesses in England, the Princess Mary of Cambridge, now the Duchess of Teck, and she seems to be as "sweet as English

to realise the dream of Tennyson in being

Queen Rose of the rosebud garden of girls. (Applause.) Gentlemen, I am quite sure that to-day and to-morrow messages will be flashing along the telegraph lines from India, Mauritius, and Ceylon, and from other Eastern colonies congratulating the Royal Family on this auspicious event, and I am also quite sure that the unofficial members of this Council and the community of Hongkong will wish that their congratulations should arrive at the Royal throne at the same time as the others do. I therefore move that a message of this nature should be sent: —

"From the Governor of Hongkong to the Marquis of Ripon.

"The Council and community of Hongkong ask your Lordship to convey to Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family their respectful congratulations on the marriage of the Duke of York and Princess Victoria of Teck."

Hon. C. P. CHATER—Sir, during the period that I have been the senior unofficial member of this Council no pleasanter duty has fallen to my lot than that of having the honour to second the resolution just proposed by your Excellency. Though colonists of one of the most distant outposts of the Empire, I may venture to say that we are second to none either in loyalty to the throne or in those feelings of personal devotion and affection to the Royal Family which it is the happy privilege of all citizens of the British Empire to feel. (Applause.) The marriage of the son of the heir to the royal and imperial crown to an English Princess specially appeals to us in both ways, and it is therefore both as Her Majesty's loyal subjects and in our capacity as private citizens that it is our duty and our delight to transmit to-day to the Royal Family our most respectful congratulations on this marriage, which it is our earnest hope will fulfil its auspicious promises. (Applause.)

The motion was then put and carried amid applause. His EXCELLENCY—I will ask the Colonial Secretary to send this telegram at once.

The Council then rose.