LORD PAUNCEFOTE
(Contd.)
775.
*198
Residents who have been in the Colony for the past thirty or forty years will remember the passing of Lord Pauncefote, former British Ambassador to the United States. He became Attorney General of Hong Kong in 1865 and left the Colony in December, 1873.
Regret at the loss of the late Lord Pauncefote was expressed by the Chief Justice (Mr. Justice W. M. Goodman, K.C.) in the Supreme Court on the morning of May 28, 1902.
In the course of his address, the Chief Justice, as reported in the Hong Kong Telegraph, said: "His death is a loss to the British nation and he seems to have been universally admired and respected both in his own country and the United States. Before he entered upon his brilliant foreign office and diplomatic career, he was well-known in this Colony.
"It was in 1865 that he first became Attorney-General of Hong Kong. I believe he twice acted as Chief Justice here, viz. in 1869 and in 1872, and before he left the Colony in December, 1873, he received a note of thanks from the Legislative Council for the assistance he had rendered in improving the legislation of the colony.
"It was to him we owed the Code of Civil procedure which was only superseded last summer, and which remained in force for 28 years, and many other important ordinances. At the banquet given to him before his departure, the Governor, Sir Arthur Kennedy, is reported to have used these words:- 'They know him to be an able lawyer, but, better than that, he was an English gentleman, and he trusted that this move would lead to yet higher distinction. He himself could give testimony to his public virtues and those present would do so to his social qualities'.
"Sir Arthur Kennedy's hopes were fully realised, as honour after honour was conferred upon this able and upright man, as he steadily and unostentatiously pursued his chosen career to its appointed end. I will not longer detain you, but I thought the death of one, who for more than eight years was so closely connected with the Councils and the Courts of Hong Kong afforded a fitting opportunity to express at once the kindly feeling and the high respect with which his memory is cherished in the Colony."
The Acting Attorney General (Hon. A. G. Wise) said: "My Lord on behalf of the legal profession of this Colony I desire to join you in the expression of our deep and sincere regret at the loss sustained by the nations, in the death of Lord Pauncefote. Apart however, from this loss the Colony had a more intimate connection with Lord Pauncefote. There are not many of us who remember him when he was here, but most of us, at any rate, have spent many an hour in pondering over his legacy to the Colony, viz., the Code. The legacy has served its time, and is now a thing of the past, but I think it ought to be remembered, that for twenty-eight years it withstood the attacks of the combined legal talents of this place, and that on only two occasions were amendments made."
LORD PAUNCEFOTE
(Contd.)
775.
*198
Residents who have been in the Colony for the past thirty or forty years will remember the passing of Lord Pauncefote, former British Ambassador to the United States. He became Attorney General of Hong Kong in 1865 and left the Colony in December, 1873.
Regret at the loss of the late Lord Pauncefote was expressed by the Chief Justice (Mr. Justice W. M. Goodman, K.0.) in the Supreme Court on the morning of May 28, 1902.
In the course of his address, the Chief Justice, as reported in the Hong Kong Telegraph, said: "His death is a loss to the British nation and he seems to have been universally admired and respected both in his own country and the United States. Before he entered upon his brilliant foreign office and diplomatic career, he was well-known in this Colony.
"It was in 1865 that he first became Attorney-General of Hong Kong. I believe he twice acted as Chief Justice here, viz. in 1869 and in 1872, and before he left the Colony in December, 1873, he received a note of thanks from the Legislative Council for the assistance he had rendered in improving the legislation of the colony.
"It was to him we owed the Code of Civil procedure which was only superseded last summer, and which remained in force for 28 years, and many other important ordinances. At the banquet given to him before his departure, the Governor, Sir Arthur Kennedy, is reported to have used these words:- 'They know him to be an able lawyer, but, better than that, he was an English gentleman, and he trusted that this move would lead to yet higher distinction. He himself could give testimony to his public virtues and those present would do so to his social qualities".
3
"Sir Arthur Kennedy's hopes were fully realised, as honour after honour was conferred upon this able and-up-right man, as he steadily and unostentatiously pursued his chosen careeb to its appointed end. I will not longer detain you, but I thought · the death of one, who for more than eight years was so closely connected with the Councils and the Courts of Hong Kong afforded a fitting opportunity to express at once the kindly feeling and the high respect with which his memory is cherished in the Colony."
The Acting Attorney General (Hon. A. G. Wise) said: "My Lord on behalf of the legal profession of this Colony I desire to join you in the expression of our deep and sincere regret at the loss sustained by the nations, in the death of Lord Pauncefote. Apart however, from this loss the Colony had a more intimate connection with Lord Pauncefote. There are not many of us who remember him whn he was here, but most of us, at any rate, have spent many an hour in pondering over his legacy to the Colony, viz., the Code. The legacy has served its time, and is now a thing of the past, but I think it ought to be remembered, that for twenty eight years it withstood the attacks of the combined legal tallents of this place, and that on only two occasions were amendments made."
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