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A PAGE FROM KOWLOON HISTORY (contd.)
For the past two days I have been writing about the manner in which Hongkong celebrated the Coronation of His Majesty, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra,
It was about this time - August 6, 1902, to be exact - that His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, Major-General Sir William Gascoigne performed the ceremony of turning the first sod of King's Park, Kowloon. Members of the local Coronation Committee, their wives, heads of Government departments, staff and regimental officers were among those present.
Drawn up at the entrance to the new "breathing lung" of the Colony were the band and a company of the Hongkong Regiment under Major Berger, the Officer Commanding the Regiment, and when His Excellency arrived, arms were presented in the general salute and the National Anthem played.
Major-General Gascoigne, Lady Gascoigne and suite were received by His Lordship, Mr. W. Meigh Goodman, Chief Justice, Chairman of the Coronation Committee, and conducted to the stand which had been specially erected for the occasion. Among others present were Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, Director of Public Works; Hon. Commander R. Murray Ramsey, Harbour Master; His Honour, Mr. Justice A. G. Wise, Puisne Judge; Hon. Mr. C. S. Sharp, Hon. Mr. G. W. F. Playfair, Hon. Mr. R. Shewan, Hon. Captain H. W. Trefusis, A.D.C., Mr. F. J. Badeley, Captain Superintendent of Police; Mr. R. F. Johnston, Private Secretary to His Excellency; Mr. E. A. Hewett, Mr. G. Stewart, Mr. H. P. Tooker, and Chevalier Z. Volpicelli.
The Chief Justice, Mr. W. Meigh Goodman introduced His Excellency who said inter alia: "I think the history of this park is pretty well known to every one, but it may not be out of place just to give a short summary of the facts. Nearly four years ago, a scheme was brought forward by Mr. Ford, the head of the Botanical Department, to whom, therefore, the principal credit is certainly due. The scheme came before me in my capacity of Officer Commanding the Troops, and I opposed it. Looking back to my reasons now, I can truly say that my opposition at that time was as honest as have been my endeavours of late to further the scheme. But it is simply that my views have broadened as my experience here grew. First of all, I had no means then of being able to see the enormous progress and prosperity that foretell both for Hongkong and Kowloon. Then also, the garrison of these days was about one-half the strength it is now and it seemed to me that with such a small garrison, it was better to keep it together. I had not realised the enormous possibilities of this Kowloon hinterland, which we had not at that time occupied - the possibilities for manoeuvring troops which I think are enjoyed in hardly any other place in the world; the possibilities of rifle exercise for the troops, which I think are of a higher scope than you can find almost anywhere else; and, lastly, the possibilities of quartering troops in healthy camps where they can practise those manoeuvres and rifle exercises which our recent experience in South Africa have shown to be so necessary for the proper training of troops. So when Mr. Stewart Lockhart, the late Colonial Secretary, brought up the scheme again to me, my former objections were removed, and I endeavoured to further the scheme in all possible ways. He brought the scheme up first to the Coronation Committee and it was accepted by them; and I believe it has been accepted by the whole of the people of Hongkong and Kowloon (Applause). It was proposed to make it a part of the Coronation celebration. The time was short and there were many interests involved. The Navy had interests, the Army had interests. I was going to say at first that these interests were conflicting, but as long as the present Colonial Secretary, Mr. May, and myself are working together, I can truly say that those interests will never be conflicting, because we share the same views that the Navy and the Army and the civil and commercial element all go hand in hand and depend each upon the other (Applause). Where there are many interests, however, it takes time for their adjustment and therefore, I was very glad to hear the Chief Justice say that you must not expect to have a properly equipped park in a few weeks.
The main fact of the question is that the Secretary for War and the Secretary of State for the Colonies have both promised that this park shall be, and therefore the park is an accomplished fact, although it may take some little time to get it into proper order. I believe that this park will be a lasting boon to the future residents of Kowloon; and I trust that they will always associate with it the name of King Edward the VII, our King whom we thought at one time was to be taken away from us by death.
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606
A PAGE FROM KOWLOON HISTORY (contd.)
For the past two days I have been writing about the manner in which Hongkong celebrated the Coronation of His Majesty, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra,
that His It was about this time - August 6, 1902, to be exact Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, Major-General Sir William Gasgoine performed the ceremony of turning the first sod of King's Park, Kowloon. Members of the local Coronation Committee, their wives, heads of Government departments, staff and regimental officers were among those present.
Drawn up at the entrance to the new "breathing lung" of the Colony were the band and a company of the Hongkong Regiment under Major Berger, the Officer Commanding the Regiment, and when His Excellency arrived, arms were presented in the general salute and the National Anthem played.
Major-General Gascoigne, Lady Gascoigne and suite were received by His Lordship, Mr. W. Meigh Goodman, Chief Justice, Chairman of the Coro- nation Committee, and conducted to the stand which had been specially erected for the occasion. Among others present were Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, Director of Public Works; Hon. Commander R. Murray Ramsey, Harbour Master; His Honour, Mr. Justice A. G. Wise, Puisne Judge; Hon. Mr. C. S. Sharp, Hon. Mr. G. W. F. Playfair, Hon. Mr. R. Shewan, Hon. Captain H. W..Trefusis, A.D.C., Mr. F. J. Badeley, Captain Superintendent of Police; Mr. R. F. Johnston, Private Secretary to His Excellency; Mr. E. A. Hewett, Mr. G. Stewart, Mr. H. P. Tooker, and Chevalier Z. Volpicelli.
The Chief Justice, Mr. W. Meigh Goodman introduced His Excellency who said inter alia: "I think the history of this park is pretty well known to every one, but it may not be out of place just to give a short summary of the facts. Nearly four years ago, a scheme was brought forward by Mr. Ford, the head of the Botanical Department, to whom therefore, the principal credit is certainly due. The scheme came before me in my capacity of Officer Commanding the Troops, and I opposed it. Looking back to my rea- sons now, I can truly say that my opposition at that time was as honest as have been my endeavours of late to further the scheme. But it is simply
that my views have broadened as my experience here grew. First of all, I had no means then of being able to see the enormous progress and prosperity that foretell both for Hongkong and Kowloon. Then also, the garrison of these days was about one-half the strength it is now and it seemed to me that with such a small garrison, it was better to keep it together. I had not realised the enormous possibilities of this Kowloon hinterland, which we had not at that time occupied the possibilities for manoeuvring troops which I think are enjoyed in hardly any other place in the world; the possi- bilities of rifle exercise for the troops, which I think are of a higher scope than you can find almost anywhere else; and, lastly, the possibilities of quartering troops in healthy camps where they can practise those manoeu- vres and rifle exercises which our recent experience in South Africa have shown to be so necessary for the proper training of troops. So when Mr. Stewart Lockhart, the late Colonial Secretary, brought up the scheme again to me, my former objections were removed, and I endeavoured to further the scheme in all possible ways. He brought the scheme up first to the Corona- tion Committee and it was accepted by them; and I believe it has been accepted by the whole of the people of Hongkong and Kowloon (Applause). It was proposed to make it a part of the Coronation celebration. The time was short and there were many interests involved. The Navy had interests, the Army had interests. I was going to say at first that these interests were conflicting, but as long as the present Colonial Secretary, Mr. May, and myself are working together, I can truly say that those interests will never be conflicting, because we share the same views that the Navy and the Army and the civil and commercial element all go hand in hand and depend each upon the other (Applause). Where there are many interests, however, it takes time for their adjustment and therefore, I was very glad to hear the Chief Justice say that you must not expect to have a properly equipped park in a few weeks.
The main fact of the question is that the Secretary for War and the Secretary of State for the Colonies have both promised that this park shall be, and therefore the park is an accomplished fact, although it may take some little time to get it into proper order. I believe that this park will be a lasting boon to the future residents of Kowloon; and I trust that they will always associate with it the name of King Edward the VII, our King whom we thought at one time was to be taken away from us by death
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