Repeated comments in Malayan papers led to the following extract being published by the S.C.M. Post in January, 1907:
*The statue of the King, which the Duke of Connaught is to unveil, observes the Straits Times, was presented to the Colony by Hongkong's well-known resident, Sir Paul Chater, K.T., C.M.G., for many years the representative of the Justices of the Peace in the Legislative Council. The presentation of this statue and of a statue of the Prince of Wales was made, singularly enough, at the unveiling of Sir Paul Chater's presentation statue of the Duke of Connaught during the celebration of the King's Coronation. This statue of the Duke was presented by Sir Paul to commemorate the fact that the foundation stone of the New Praya Reclamation was laid by the Duke of Connaught during his last visit to the Colony. When the visit was made, the site of the square where all these statues are now placed was under water. The new Law Courts and the new Post Office are being built in the vicinity, and the splendid Hongkong Club, the Cable House and numerous other architecturally imposing private buildings are now being erected on the reclaimed foreshore which has proved a boon to the Colony. Sir Paul Chater, as the virtual head of the Hong Kong Land Investment Company, was the moving spirit in this reclamation scheme, as he has been in most of the public improvements in Hongkong.
*The statue of the Prince of Wales (our present King George) was gifted by Mr. J.J. Bell-Irving, Member of the Legislative Council and the Resident "taipan" of "The Princely House" of Messrs Jardine, Matheson and Co. Mr. Bell-Irving retired from active business in China several years ago, and has settled down to congenial country life in the south of Scotland.
*The square in which these statues are reared lies between the City Hall and the Head Office of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, and the Harbour. Under a canopy, the architectural merits of which have been the subject of controversy, is Reggio's bronze statue of Queen Victoria seated in her chair of state. When it was unveiled, the Chinese were somewhat astonished to find that the British ruler was black! Since the unveiling of the Duke of Connaught's statue—left to moulder in a godown for many years—a statue of Sir Thomas Jackson, Bart., Chairman of the London Committee of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, and for many years its able Chief Manager in Hongkong, was erected by the Directors of this important financial institution.
This statue is also by Reggio.
"Besides all these public statues, there is another of Sir Arthur Kennedy in the Public Gardens."
A statue of the Princess of Wales (our present Queen) was also erected, in the Square,
Sir Henry May's, of course, came some years later.
That almost completes the list of Hongkong's memorials in Statue Square, except for the Bank's war memorial, and, of course, the Cenotaph. But, at the risk of rousing the opposition of those who sneer at our collection of statuary, it might be suggested that, if ever some "overlooked corner" should become apparent, a suitable subject would be the late Sir Paul Chater himself, who was responsible for several of our statues and has not one himself, and few men were more deserving of such a token of remembrance.
I understand that a few years ago there was set on foot a movement with that object in view, when it was suggested that a statue of Sir Paul should be placed in the "circus" at Kowloon Point; but the scheme fell through as the Chinese did not con-
2.
Repeated comments in Malayan papers led to the following extract being published by the S.0.M. Post in Jenus ry, 1907:
*The statue of the King, which the Duke of Connaught is to unveil, observes the Straits Times, was presented to the Colony by Hongkong's well known resident. Sir Paul Cheter,KT., C.M.G., for many years the representative of the Justices of the Feace in the Legislative Council. The presentation of this statue and of a statue of the Prince of Wales was made, singulerly enough, et the unveiling of Sir Paul Chater's presentation statue of the Duke of Connaught during the celebration of the King's Coronetion. This statue of the Duke was presented by Sir Paul to commemorate the fact that the foundation stone of the New Praya Reclamation was laid by the Duke of Connaught during his last vis- it to the Colony. When the visit was made, the site of the squere where all these statues are now placed was under water. The new Lew Courts end the new Post Office are being built in the vicinity, and the splendid Hongkong Club, the Cable House and numerous other architecturally imposing private buildings are now being erected on the reclaimed foreshore which has proved a boon to the Colony. Sir Paul Chater, as the virtual head of the Hong Kong Land Investment Company, was the moving spirit in this reclamation scheme, as he has been in most of the public improve- ments in Hongkong.
*The statue of the Prince of Wales (our present King George) was gifted by Mr.J.J.Bell-Irving, Member of the Legislative Council and the Resident "teipan" of "The Princely House" of Messrs Jardine,
Matheson and Co. Mr. Ball-Irving retired from activè business in China several years ago, and has settled down to congenial oountry life in the south of Scotland.
1
*The square in which these statues are reared lies between the City Hall and the Head Office of the Hongkong and Shenghai Banking Corporation, and the Harbour. Under a canopy, the architectural merits of which have been the subject of controversy, is Reggio's bronze statue of Queen Victoria seated in her cheir of state. When it was unveiled, the Chinese were somewhat aston ished to find that the British ruler was black! Since the unveiling of the Duke of Connaught 's statue-left to moulder in a godown for many years-a statue of Sir Thomas Jackson, Bert., Chairman of the London Committee of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, end for many years its able Chief Manager in Hongkong, was erected by the Directors of this importent financial institution.
This statue is also by Raggio..
"Besides all these public statues, there is another of Sir Arthur Kennedy in the Public Gardens."
A statue of the Princess of Wales (our present Queen) was
also erected, in the Square,
Sir Henry May's, of course, game some years later.
That almost completes the list of Hongkong's memorials în Statue Square, except for the Bank's war memoriel, and, of course, the Cenotaph. But, at the risk of rousing the opposition of those who sneer at our collection of statuery, it might be suggested that, if ever some "overlooked corner should become apparent, a suitable subject would be the late Sir Paul Cheter himself.
a who was responsible for several of our statues has not one him- self, and few men were more deserving of such e token of remem- brence.
I understand that a few years ago there was set on foot a movement with that object in view, when it was suggested that a statue of Sir Paul should be placed in the "oircus' et Kowloon Point; but the scheme fell through as the Chinese did not con-
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