He was a good Governor of this Colony, establishing as far as possible amicable relations with the Chinese authorities and the successive Governors of Macao. Indeed, when the regrettable affair of Mr. James Summers occurred (see yesterday's article) Sir George was all along an advocate of compensation and reparation, and eventually saw his point carried. He died in 1863, and though his own generation do not appear to have realised it, was later acknowledged one of the most statesmanlike administrators Hongkong ever had.
Nearby, but now shown on the map, is Jervois Street, and it is worth recording how that thoroughfare as well as Bonham Strand came actually to be so named the result of a big fire which occurred in 1851.
It was on December 28 of the year named that, during a gale, a fire broke out in what was then known as Sheungwan Market. In spite of the heroic efforts made by the Royal Engineers, some hundreds of Chinese houses to the north of Queen's Road were destroyed and about thirty lives lost. Later, the whole district was rebuilt, with considerable improvements, and the most eastern and most western streets were named respectively Jervois Street and Bonham Strand. This was in honour of Major General Jervois, who personally directed the R.E.'s in fighting the fire, and of Sir George Bonham, the Governor, who gave liberal aid in housing those who had lost their homes in the conflagration.
Mercer Street is named after Mr. William Thomas Mercer, who was appointed Colonial Treasurer in 1847, one of the first officials in that post, and later Secretary for Chinese Affairs (1849), Colonial Secretary (1854), and Officer Administering the Government (1861 and 1865). He had originally (1844) been Private Secretary to the Governor, Sir John Davis.
Hillier Street commemorates Mr. Charles Batten Hillier, who was Magistrate and Coroner here in 1843, and for a time resided out at Stanley. He was later promoted Consul to Siam. When he left Hongkong it was recorded that the Colony had "lost, if not the brightest, certainly one of the most honest, conscientious and straightforward of its servants. In a record of May, 1856, it is stated with the departure that month of Mr. Hillier, in whose uprightness and integrity as Chief Magistrate they had come to rely, the Chinese lost a warm and steadfast friend. On his departure from Hongkong,
a large procession was formed at the Temple near Taipingshan which proceeded to his residence, carrying in its midst presents and an address bearing testimony of their respect and goodwill. On October 18 of the same year, Mr. Hillier died at Bangkok.
Gough Street, like Mount Gough, was named after Major-General Sir Hugh Gough, who was General Officer Commanding the troops out here at the time of the cession of Hongkong. He arrived in March 1841, and took command of the military garrison.
Aberdeen Street, like the village of that name on the south of the island, was named after the Earl of Aberdeen, who was Foreign Secretary in the Forties. (See 11-7-33).
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11.
He was a good Governor of this Colony, establishing as far as possible amicable relations with the Chinese au- thorities and the successive Governors of Macao. Indeed, when the regrettable affair of Mr. James Summers occurred (see yesterday's article) Sir George was all along an advocate of compensation and reparation, and eventually saw his point carried. He died in 1863, and though his own generation do not appear to have realised it, was later acknowledged one of the most statesmanlike administrators Hongkong ever had.
Nearby, but now shown on the map, is Jervois Street, and it is worth recording how that thoroughfare as well as Bonham Strand came actually to be so named the result of a big fire which occurred in 1851.
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It was on December 28 of the year named that, during a gale, a fire broke out in what was then known as Sheungwan Market. In spite of the heroic efforts made by the Royal Engineers, some hundreds of Chinese houses to the north of Queen's Road were destroyed and about thirty lives lost. Later, the whole district was rebuilt, with considerable improvements, and the most eastern and most western streets were named respectively Jervois Street and Bonham Strand. This was in honour of Major General Jervois, who personally directed the R.E.'s in fighting the fire, and of Sir George Bonham, the Governor, who gave liberal aid in housing those who had lost their homes in the conflagration.
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Mercer Street is named after Mr. William Thomas Mercer, who was appointed Colonial Treasurer in 1847, one of the first officials in that post, and later Secretary for Chinese Affairs (1849), Colonial Secretary (1854), and Officer Administering the Government (1861 and 1865). He had originally (1844) been Private Secretary to the Governor, Sir John Davis.
Hillier Street commemorates Mr. Charles Batten Hillier, who was Magistrate and Coroner here in 1843, and for a time resided out at Stanley. He was later promoted Consul to Siam. When he left Hongkong it was recorded that the Colony had "lost, if not the brightest, certainly one of the most honest, conscientious and straightforward of its servants. In a record of May, 1856, it is stated with the departure that month of Mr. Hillier, in whose uprightness and integrity as Chief Magistrate they had come to rely, the Chinese lost a warm and steadfast friend. On his departure from Hongkong,
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a large procession was formed at the Temple near Taipingshan which proceeded to his residence, carrying in its midst presents and an address bearing testimony of their respect and goodwill. On October 18 of the same year, Mr. Hillier died at Bangkok.
Gough Street, like Mount Gough, was named after Major- General Sir Hugh Gough, who was General Officer Commanding the troops out here at the time of the cession of Hongkong. He arrived in March 1841, and took command of the military garrison.
Aberdeen Street, like the village of that name on the south of the island, was named after the Earl of Aberdeen, who was Foreign Secretary in the Forties. (See 11-7-33).
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