Old Hong Kong-2 — Page 147

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STATUE OF DUKE OF CONNAUGHT

In yesterday's references to the Colony's statues, mention was made of the Duke of Connaught's, which had lain for some time in a godown. Presented in 1890, it was not unveiled until 1902; end of the Duke's second visit in 1907) his statue already stood on its present site on the new Praya; thus partly commemorating this big reclamation scheme.

It was the third memorial of this nature; the first statue ever erected in Hongkong was that of Sir Arthur Kennedy, subscribed for by the public during 1883-84 (see 7-11-33); the second was Queen Victoria's, in commemoration of her Jubilee and paid for out of the Jubilee celebration funds, partly by the Government and partly by the community, the unveiling taking place in 1896 (see 30-12-33).

We might consider in some detail the origin of the Duke of Connaught's statue and its eventual unveiling.

Of considerable interest is the fact that it was ceremoniously erected opposite the Supreme Court site in Statue Square, and subsequently (in 1907) shifted to its present position opposite Blake Pier, so that the Duke was confronted by his own image on landing (for the second visit) that same year.

The S.C., Post of July 7, 1902, reports;

Fully half an hour before the appointed time (5.30 p.m.) for the unveiling of the statue of H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, on Saturday (July 5), quite a number of people were assembled in the vicinity. The police, directed by Mr. P.P.J. Wodehouse, made perfect arrangements so there was no unnecessary crowding or disorder. On the arrival of His Excellency (the Officer Administering the Government, Major-General Sir W.J. Gascoigne) accompanied by Captain Trefusis, A.D.O., and Mr. R.F. Johnson, Private Secretary, the guard of honour from the Hongkong Regiment, accompanied by the band and Colours, stood to attention, H.E. acknowledged the salute and bowed to the assembly. Mr. H.N. (afterwards Sir Hormusjee) Mody, speaking for Sir Paul Chater (who was absent from the Colony) addressed H.E. as follows:

"Your Excellency.-It is my pleasant duty on behalf of my friend and partner, Sir Paul Chater, to respectfully request you now to take possession of and to publicly unveil this statue of His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught. This ceremony, which formed part of the Coronation Celebration, was unfortunately and unavoidably postponed on account of the serious illness of King Edward, and I take this opportunity of expressing my thankfulness that His Majesty has so greatly improved in health as to relieve our immediate anxiety, and enable us with lighter hearts to carry out at least this item on the programme we had to abandon.

"A few words of explanation of how this statue came to be erected will, I think, not be out of place. The statue was intended by Sir Paul Chater to commemorate the visit of the Duke of Connaught to this Colony in 1890, on which occasion His Royal Highness laid the foundation stone of the Reclamation Works which wrested the whole of the space before us from the sea. The Duke having graciously signified his acceptance of this compliment, the statue was ordered and executed, but there being at that time no suitable site ready, its erection was deferred until the reclamation was completed.

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Aribute. It was said that Cheter did nothing specifically for the Chinese perhaps true, but he did a great deal for the Colony as a whole; and the Government might help, if it does not entirely finance, any such plan should it again be mooted. STATUE OF DUKE OF CONNAUGHT In yesterday's references to the Colony's statues, mention was made of the Duke of Connaught's, which had lain for some time in a godown. Presented in 1890, it was not unveiled until 1902; end of the Duke's second visit in 1907) his statue already stood on its present site on the new Praya; thus partly commemorating this big reclamation scheme. It was the third memorial of this nature; the first statue ever erected in Hongkong was that of Sir Arthur Kennedy, subscribed for by the public during 1883-84 (see 7-11-33); the second was Queen Victoria's, in commemoration of her Jubilee and paid for out of the Jubilee celebration funds, partly by the Government and partly by the community, the unveiling taking place in 1896 (see 30-12-33). We might consider in some detail the origin of the Duke of Connaught's statue and its eventual unveiling. Of considerable interest is the fact that it was ceremoniously erected opposite the Supreme Court site in Statue Square, and subsequently (in 1907) shifted to its present position opposite Blake Pier, so that the Duke was confronted by his own image on landing (for the second visit) that same year. The S.C., Post of July 7, 1902, reports; On Fully half an hour before the appointed time (5.30 p.m.) for the unveiling of the statue of H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, on Saturday (July 5), quite a number of people were assembled in the vicinity. The police, directed by Mr. P.P.J. Wodehouse, made perfect arrangements so there was no unnecessary crowding or disorder. On the arrival of His Excellency (the Officer Administering the Government, Major-General Sir W.J. Gascoigne) accompanied by Captain Trefusis, A.D.O., and Mr. R.F. Johnson, Private Secretary, the guard of honour from the Hongkong Regiment, accompanied by the band and Colours, stood to attention, H.E. acknowledged the salute and bowed to the assembly. Mr. H.N. (afterwards Sir Hormusjee) Mody, speaking for Sir Paul Chater (who was absent from the Colony) addressed H.E. as follows: "Your Excellency.-It is my pleasant duty on behalf of my friend and partner, Sir Paul Chater, to respectfully request you now to take possession of and to publicly unveil this statue of His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught. This ceremony, which formed part of the Coronation Celebration, was unfortunately and unavoidably postponed on account of the serious illness of King Edward, and I take this opportunity of expressing my thankfulness that His Majesty has so greatly improved in health as to relieve our immediate anxiety, and enable us with lighter hearts to carry out at least this item on the programme we had to abandon. "A few words of explanation of how this statue came to be erected will, I think, not be out of place. The statue was intended by Sir Paul Chater to commemorate the visit of the Duke of Connaught to this Colony in 1890, on which occasion His Royal Highness laid the foundation stone of the Reclamation Works which wrested the whole of the space before us from the sea. The Duke having graciously signified his acceptance of this compliment, the statue was ordered and executed, but there being at that time no suitable site ready, its erection was deferred until the reclamation was completed.

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2. Aribute. It was said that Cheter did nothing specifically for the Chinese perhaps true, but he did a great deal for the Colony as a whole; and the Government might help, if it does not entirely finance, any such plan should it again be mooted. STATUE OF DUKE OF CONNAUGHT-1 In yesterday's references to the Colony's statues, mention was made of the Duke of Connaught's, which had lain for some time in a godown. Presented in 1890, it was not unveiled until 1902; end of the Duke's second visit in 1907) his statue already stood on its present site on the new Praya; thus partly commemorating this big reclamation scheme. S It was the third memorial of this natur e the first stetue ever erected in Hongkong was that of Sir Arthur Kennedy, subscribed for by the public during 1883-84 (see 7-11-33); the second was Queen Victoria's, in commemoration of her Jubilee and paid for out the Jubilee celebration funds, partly by the Government and partly by the community, the unveiling taking place in 1896 (see 30-12-33). We might consider in some detail the origin of the Duke of Connaught's statue and its eventual unveiling. Of considerable interest is the fact that it was ceremoniously erected opposite the Supreme Court site in Statue Square, end subsequently (in 1907) shifted to its present position opposite Blake Fier, so that the Duke was confronted by his own image on landing (for the second visit) that same year. The S.C.,Post of July 7, 1902, reports; On Fully half an hour before the appointed time (5.30 p.m.) for the unveiling of the statue of H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, on Saturday (July 5), quite a number of people was assembled in the vicinity. The police, directed by Mr.P.P.J. Wodehouse, made perfect arrangements so there was no unnecessary crowding or disorder. the arrival of His Excellency (the Officer Administering the Government, Major-General Sir W.J. Gascoigne) accompanied by Captain Trefusis, A.D.O., and Mr.R.F. Johnson, Private Secretary, the guard of honour from the Hongkong Regiment, accompanied by the band and Colours, stood to attention, H.E. acknowledged the salute and bowed to the assembly. Mr. H.N. (afterwards Sir Hormus je Mody, noting for Sir Paul Chater (who was absent from the Colony) addressed H.E. as follows: *Your Exoellenoy.-It is my pleasant duty on behalf of my friend and partner, Sir Peul Chater, to respectfully request you now to take possession of and to publicly unveil this statue of His Royal highness the Duke of Connaught. This ceremony, which formed part of the Coronation Celebration, was unfortunately end unavoidably postponed on account of the serious illness of King Edward, and I take this opportunity of expressing my thankfulness that His Majesty has so greatly improved in health as to relieve our immed is te anxiety, and ene ble us with lighter hearts to carry out at leest this item on the programme we had to abandon. * "A few words of explanation of how this statue cɛme to be erected will. I think, not be out of place. The statue wes int end ed by Sir Paul Chater to commemorate the visit of the Duke of Connaught to this Colony in 1890, on which occasion His Royal Highness laid the foundation stone of the Reclamation Works which wrested the whole of the expense before us from the sea. The Duke heving graciously signified his acceptance of this compliment, the statue was ordered and executed, but there being at that time no suitable site ready, its erection was deferred until the reclamation was completed.

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STATUE OF DUKE OF CONNAUGHT-1

It was the third memorial of this natur e the first stetue ever erected in Hongkong was that of Sir Arthur Kennedy, subscribed for by the public during 1883-84 (see 7-11-33); the second was Queen Victoria's, in commemoration of her Jubilee and paid for out the Jubilee celebration funds, partly by the Government and partly by the community, the unveiling taking place in 1896 (see 30-12-33).

We might consider in some detail the origin of the Duke of Connaught's statue and its eventual unveiling.

Of considerable interest is the fact that it was ceremoniously erected opposite the Supreme Court site in Statue Square, end subsequently (in 1907) shifted to its present position opposite Blake Fier, so that the Duke was confronted by his own image on landing (for the second visit) that same year.

The S.C.,Post of July 7, 1902, reports;

Fully half an hour before the appointed time (5.30 p.m.) for the unveiling of the statue of H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, on Saturday (July 5), quite a number of people was assembled in the vicinity. The police, directed by Mr.P.P.J. Wodehouse, made perfect arrangements so there was no unnecessary crowding or disorder. the arrival of His Excellency (the Officer Administering the Government, Major-General Sir W.J. Gascoigne) accompanied by Captain Trefusis, A.D.O., and Mr.R.F. Johnson, Private Secretary, the guard of honour from the Hongkong Regiment, accompanied by the band and Colours, stood to attention, H.E. acknowledged the salute and bowed to the assembly. Mr. H.N. (afterwards Sir Hormus je Mody, noting for Sir Paul Chater (who was absent from the Colony) addressed H.E. as follows:

*Your Exoellenoy.-It is my pleasant duty on behalf of my friend and partner, Sir Peul Chater, to respectfully request you now to take possession of and to publicly unveil this statue of His Royal highness the Duke of Connaught. This ceremony, which formed part of the Coronation Celebration, was unfortunately end unavoidably postponed on account of the serious illness of King Edward, and I take this opportunity of expressing my thankfulness that His Majesty has so greatly improved in health as to relieve our immed is te anxiety, and ene ble us with lighter hearts to carry out at leest this item on the programme we had to abandon.

"A few words of explanation of how this statue cɛme to be erected will. I think, not be out of place. The statue wes int end ed by Sir Paul Chater to commemorate the visit of the Duke of Connaught to this Colony in 1890, on which occasion His Royal Highness laid the foundation stone of the Reclamation Works which wrested the whole of the expense before us from the sea. The Duke heving graciously signified his acceptance of this compliment, the statue was ordered and executed, but there being at that time no suitable site ready, its erection was deferred until the reclamation was completed.

Old Hong Kong-2 — Page 147

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