990
STATUE OF DUKE OF CONNAUGHT 2
in the first article on this subject mention was made of the fact that the Duke of Connaught's statue, which now stands facing Blake Pier, in Connaught Road, was originally erected in Statue Square, opposite the site of the Supreme Court. It was unveiled on July 5, 1902, being handed over by Mr. H.N. Mody on behalf of Sir Paul Chater.
The previous article gave Mr. Mody's speech on that occasion. H.E. the Officer Administering the Government (Major-General Sir W.J. Gascoigne - after whom Gascoigne Road was named) replied as follows:
"Mr. Mody, Ladies and Gentlemen. I take it as a very high compliment indeed that I should have been asked to unveil the statue of His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught. You have heard from Mr. Mody that this statue is the gift of Mr., now I am glad to say, Sir, Paul Chater, and while I am on this subject I may say I am empowered to make public the fact which has not been published before, and that is that there are two other statues in course of being made for presentation to the Colony (applause). One is the statue of the King himself, and the other the statue of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales (renewed applause).
The statue of the Prince of Wales is the gift of Mr. Bell-Irving. Mr. Bell-Irving is well known to you all here in Hongkong. He was a grand sportsman and a perfect gentleman, and though he has left the Colony, I believe for good, yet one may say he has left his mark behind him (applause). Though somewhat retiring in disposition, he possessed a common sense and a judgment such as are shared by few men. I think it is a remarkably handsome gift from a man who has terminated his position in the Colony to leave this lasting memento of himself in this handsome gift to the Colony, and I am sure you will all so regard it. (Loud applause).
The statue of the King is the gift, again another gift of Sir Paul Chater (applause). Sir Paul Chater is perhaps the best known man in Hongkong; he has been prominent in all great public works which have made Hongkong what it is. He has made Hongkong his home, and as he has often said to me "What benefits Hongkong benefits me." It is men like him who make the places where they elect to dwell, and I am quite certain that you, one and all, will recognise the munificence of his second gift. (Prolonged applause) Both of these gentlemen, with a diffidence which did them credit, refused to allow me to make public this matter until they had left the Colony, but they begged me to use the opportunity, when unveiling the statue of the Duke of Connaught, to take this opportunity to make the announcement", (Applause).
Slacking the cord, His Excellency allowed the veil around the statue to slowly drop and expose to view a life-sized bronze statue of H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, in the uniform of the Guard.
It rests on a granite pedestal inscribed:- "His Royal Highness Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn. Presented to the Colony by Sir Paul Chater, April 1890."
The statue remained undisturbed for four and a half years, commemorating one who had first visited the Colony in 1890. But when the Duke of Connaught was about to pay his second visit to Hongkong, in 1907, the powers-to-be decided to move the statue to a more appropriate site, on the new Praya, which had then been completed. It will be recalled that the Royal Duke laid the foundation stone inaugurating the reclamation scheme in 1890.
The move took place on January 30, 1907, and the S.C.M. Post the following day commented:
990
STATUE OF DUKE OF CONNAUGHT 2
in the first article on this subject mention was made of the fact the t the Duke of Connaught's statue, which now stands feoing Blake Pier, in Connaught Road, was originally erected in Statue Square, opposite the site of the Supreme Court. It was unveiled on July 5, 1902, being handed over by ir. H.N. Mody on behalf of Sir Paul Chat er.
The previous article gave Mr. Mody's speech on that occasion. H.E. the Officer Administering the Government (Mejor - General Sir W.J. Gascoigne - after whom Gascoigne Roed was named) replied as follows:
"Mr. Mody, Ladies and Gentlemen. I take it as a very high compliment indeed that I should have been asked to unveil the statue of His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught. You have heard from
r. Mody that this statue is the gift of Mr., now I am glad to say, Sir, Paul Chater, and while I am on this subject I may say I am en- powered to make public e fact which has not been published before, and that is that there are two other statuss in course of being made for presentation to the Colony (applause). One is the statue of the King himself, end the other the statue of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales (renewed applause).
*The statue of the Prince of Wales is the gift of Mr.Bell-Irv- ing. Mr. Bell-Irving is well known to you all here in Hongkong. He was a grand sportsman and a perfect gentleman, and though he has Left the Colony, I believe for good, yet one may say he has left his mark behind him (applause). Though somewhat retiring in disposition, he possessed a common sense and a judgment such as are shared by few men. I think it is a remarkably handsomegift from a man who has terminated his position in the Colony to leave this Lesting memento of himself in this handsome gift to the Colony, and I am sure you will all so regard it. (Loud applause).
*The statue of the King is the gift again another gift of Sir Paul Chater (applause). Sir Paul Chater is perhaps the best known men in Hongkong; he has been prominent in all great public works which have made Hongkong what it is. He has made Hongkong bis home, and as he has often said to me "What benefits Hongkong bonefits me." It is men like him who make the places where they elect to dwell, and I am quite certain that you, one and all, will. recognise the munificence of his second gift. (Prolonged applause) Both of these gentlemen, with a diffidence which did them credit, refused to allow me to make public this matter until they had left the Colony, but they begged me to use the opportunity, when unveil- ing the statue of the Duke of Connaught, to take this opportunity to make the announcement", (Applause).
Slacking the cord, His Excellency allowed the veil around the the statue to slowly drop and expose to view a life-sized brorize statue of H.R.. the Duke of Connaught, in the uniform of the Guardi
*
It rests on a granite pedestal insoribed:- "His Royal Highness Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn. Presented to the Colony by Sir Paul Cheter, April 1890.*
The stetue remained undisturbed for four and a half years, commemorating one who had first visited the Colony in 1890. But when the Duke of Connaught was about to pay his second visit to Hongkong, in 1907, the powers-the t-be decided to move the statue to a more appropriate site, on the new Praye, which had then been completed. It will be recalled that the Royal Duke laid the foundation stone inaugurating the reclamation scheme in 1890.
The move took place on Janus ry 30, 1907, and the S.C.M. Post the following day commented:
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