MORRISON HILL
132
709
In view of the partial disappearance of Morrison Hill, and the close association it has with the terrain of Happy Valley and East Point (see 31-7-33), some facts about this hillock and its naming might be given to-day. The hill is not so named until about late Fifties at the earliest, and is indirectly called after the famous sinologue, Rev. Dr. Robert Morrison, who also translated the Bible into Chinese. There was, however, a son who was associated with the Colony in its early days, and was attached to the mission of Lord Napier and later to Captain Elliot (the first Administrator of Hong Kong) as an interpreter. It has been erroneously stated that this interpreter was Dr. Morrison, but it was definitely his son, J.R. Morrison, who succeeded his father (who died in 1834) as interpreter to Lord Napier at Canton. Mr. J. R. Morrison was also officially appointed Chinese Secretary to Captain Elliot in 1841, and later to Mr. A. A. Johnstone, Acting Governor, and then to Sir Henry Pottinger, who appointed Mr. Morrison to be a member of the Legislative Council. He died, greatly lamented, on August 29, 1843.
The Morrison Education Society of Canton and Macao commenced a building in Hong Kong on what later came to be known as Morrison Hill, in 1842, but local interest and support languished, and the school had to be closed in 1849, existing for a few years longer in the form of a committee administering the funds in hand for the purpose of religious education. These funds were lost in Messrs. Dent and Co's. failure in 1867, and the valuable library and a painting of Dr. Morrison by George Chinnery were handed over to the City Hall in 1869. It is hoped that the library will be available for public reference again when the new premises are completed; the portrait, showing Dr. Morrison engaged in translating the Bible into the Chinese language, now hangs in the Hong Kong University.
MORRISON HILL
132
709
In view of the partial disappearance of Morrison Hill, and the close association it has with the terrain of Happy Valley and East Point (see 31-7-33), some facts about this hillock and its naming might be given to-day. The hill is not so named until about late Fifties at the earliest, and is indirectly called after the famous sinologue, Rev. Dr. Robert Morrison, who also translated the Bible into Chinese. There was, however, a son who was associated with the Colony in its early days, and was attached to the mission of Eord Napier and later to Captain Elliot (the first Administrator of Hong Kong) as an interpreter. It has been erroneously stated that this interpreter was Dr. Morrison, but it was definitely his son, J.R. Morrison, who succeeded his father (who died in 1834) as interpreter to Lord Napier at Canton. Mr. J. R. Morrison was also officially appointed Chinese Secretary to Captain Elliot in 1841, and later to Mr. A. A. Johnstone, Acting Governor, and then to Sir Henry Pottinger, who appointed Mr. Morrison to be a member of the Legislative Council. le died, greatly lamented, on August 29, 1843.
The Morrison Education Society of Canton and Macao commenced a building in Hong Kong on what later came to be known as Morrison Hill, in 1842, but local interest and support languished, and the school had to be closed in 1849, existing for a few years longer in the form of a committee administering the funds in hand for the purpose of religious education. These funds were lost in Messrs. Dent and Co's. failure in 1867, and the valuable library and a painting of Dr. Morrison by George Chinnery were handed over to the City Hall in 1869. It is hoped that the library will be available for public reference again when the new premises are completed: the portrait, showing Dr. Morrison engaged in translating the Bible into the Chinese language, now hangs in the Hong Kong University.
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