GOVERNORS
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3478
after he left. Yet the Chinese community, avoiding the foreign elements controversies, took the occasion to pay Sir John the tribute of waiting upon him to express their esteem and regret at his going, making him valuable gifts, and thus showing the departing administrator a rare example of Chinese courtesy which he probably treasured the more for its contrast with the hostile behaviour of his own countrymen.
Sir John Bowring had an adventurous voyage home, being shipwrecked in the Red Sea; but arrived safely, to receive the thanks of the Conservative Ministry of the time for his services out here. He died at the age of eighty, in November, 1872.
We have reviewed the somewhat chequered career of Sir John Bowring as Governor of Hongkong, and to-day come to his successor, Sir Hercules Robinson, whose term lasted from September 1859 to March 1865, and after whom Robinson Road was named. Originally Nathan Road in Kowloon was called after this Governor, whose regime saw the cession of the peninsula to Britain, but the confusion of names on the two sides of the harbour led to the change, and the Hongkong road alone retained the appellation. A summary of the career
of Sir Hercules Robinson has already been given in the course of these articles (see 13-11-33): it will be recalled that he had been an officer in the Army in his younger days, and came to the Colony at a time when it was verging on some of the biggest developments of its history. It is evident that he was selected to reorganise what was considered at Home to be a somewhat backward portion of the Empire, and that he succeeded in doing much good, advancing various reforms, and leaving the Colony a much better place than he found it, speaks volumes for his abilities. From here he went to the Governorship of Ceylon, and later went to Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, serving with distinction everywhere, living to a good old age, and being honoured among the proconsuls of the British realms.
The fact that he left the Colony amid the good wishes of everybody is sufficient evidence of his successful governance of Hongkong: though it is evident from contemporary comments that he was inclined to domineer at times (particularly in the early period of his administration, when he found much to clean up) and was not by any means habitually liked by his subordinates. Yet his departure was marked by two complimentary public entertainments - a dinner at the Hongkong Club given by members of the Civil Service, and a grand ball in the Theatre Royal given by the community, at both of which he was the guest of honour. It would seem that a fair share of his popularity was due to the influence of his much-beloved helpmeet, Lady Robinson.
On the departure of Sir H. Robinson, the Hon. Mr. W. T. Mercer served for a year as Administrator, and served very well indeed. He had been appointed Colonial Treasurer in 1847, being one of the first officials to hold that post, and later was Secretary for Chinese Affairs, and Colonial Secretary. This official had a long experience of the Colony, having originally been Private Secretary to the Governor (Sir John Davis) in 1844. He is commemorated by Mercer Street (see 3-11-33).
GOVERNORS
Continuation
3478
after he left. Yet the Chinese community, avoiding the foreign elementis controversies, took the occasion to pay Sir John the tribute of waiting upon him to express their esteem and regret at his going, making him valuable gifts, and thus showing the departing administrator a rare example of Chinese courtesy which he probably treasured the more for its contrast with the hostile behaviour of his own countrymen.
Sir John Bowring had an adventurous voyage home, being shipwrecked in the Red Sea; but arrived safely, to receive the thanks of the Conservative Ministry of the time for his services out here. He died at the age of eighty, in November, 1872.
We have reviewed the somewhat chequered career of Sir John Bowring as Governor of Hongkong, and to-day come to his successor, Sir Hercules Robinson, whose term lasted from September 1859 to March 1865, and after whom Robinson Road was named. Originally Nathan Road in Kowloon was called after this Governor, whose regime saw the cession of the peninsula to Britain, but the confusion of names on the two sides of the harbour led to the change, and the Hongkong road alone retained the appellation. A summary of the career
•
of Sir Hercules Robinson has already been given in the course of these articles (see 13-11-33): it will be recalled that he had been an officer in the Army in his younger days, and came to the Colony at a time when it was verging on some of the biggest developments of its history. It is evident that he was selected to reorganise what was considered at Home to be a somewhat backward portion of the Empire, and that he succeed- ed in doing much good, advancing various reforms, and leaving the Colony a much better place than he found it, speaks volumes for his abilities. From here he went to the Governor. ship of Ceylon, and later went to Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, serving with distinction everywhere, living to a good old age, and being honoured among the proconsuls of the British realms.
The fact that he left the Colony amid the good wishes of everybody is sufficient evidence of his successful governance of Hongkong: though it is evident from contemporary comments that he was inclined to domineer at times (particular- ly in the early period of his administration, when he found much to clean up) and was not by any means habitually liked by his subordinates. Yet his departure was marked by two com- plimentary public entertainment - a dinner at the Hongkong Club given by members of the Civil Service, and a grand ball in the Theatre Royal given by the community, at both of which he was the guest of honour. It would seem that a fair share of his popularity was due to the influence of his much- beloved helpmeet, Lady Robinson.
On the departure of Sir H. Robinson, the Hon. Mr.W.T. Mercer served for a year as Administrator, and served very well indeed. He had been appointed Colonial Treasurer in 1847, being one of the first officials to hold that post, and later was Secretary for Chinese Affairs, and Colonial Secretary. This official had a long experience of the Colony, having originally been Private Secretary to the Governor (Sir John Davis)" in 1844. He is commemorated by Mercer Street (see 3-11-33).
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