COURTS (1)
Continuation.
shows the work of erection of the present Supreme Court in progress. In the background is the old City Hall, erected in 1869, and now being demolished; and the Hongkong Bank building, completed in 1888, and shortly to be pulled down! The Supreme Court building was completed at the beginning of 1912, and was opened on January 15 of that year by Sir Frederick Lugard, then Governor of the Colony.
A brief history of the Court Houses of Hongkong might be given here. We find in the old chronicles that building of a Court House on the site of the present Masonic Hall in Zetland Street was commenced in 1841. It was not until three years later (a matter for complaint at the time) that a Supreme Court was opened in premises in Wellington Street, on October 1, 1844, the event being accompanied by the customary pomp and ceremony.
244
COURTS (2)
ILLUSTRATION.
This old building has probably since been pulled down; it was in use until 1848, when the Supreme Court was moved to what was then known as Exchange Building, in Queen's Road, where China Building now stands. The portico pillars of this old building can be seen to the right-hand side of the photograph of Queen's Road Central published the other day (Plate 21-8, 33.). It was purchased by the Government from Messrs. Dent and Co., in 1847; the premises were in use until 1912, when the Supreme Court moved to its present quarters.
It might not be out of place to note that the first Barrister admitted to practice at the Supreme Court was Mr. Henry Charles Sirr, who had been called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1833. He was admitted on the date of the opening of the Court, but had to share the distinction with the first Attorney General of the Colony, Mr. Paul Ivy Sterling, who had been called to the Irish Bar in 1829.
Any student of the history of Hongkong will find much of interest in a collection of relics connected with Supreme Court cases and official occasions, which is kept in a glass-fronted cupboard in the office of the Chief Justice's clerk. Apparently the collection was commenced in the Fifties and it appears to have been fostered largely by the successive clerks in that office. There are nibs taken from the pens with which various significant documents were signed; for example, to come to fairly recent times, the pen with which Sir William Rees Davies, a former Chief Justice signed a death sentence and the pen with which Sir R. E. Stubbs signed his oath on taking office as Governor of the Colony. The exhibits are largely a "crime museum" with such things as an axe reputed to have been used in a murder, counterfeit coins, and forged notes, but one such relic at least is of historic interest. This is a piece of the poisoned bread used as a Court exhibit when the Chinese master baker was tried in 1857 on a charge of trying to poison the European community.
Page 245
Page 246
COURTS ( 1 )
Continuation.
shows the work of erection of thepresent Supreme Court in progress. In the background is the old City Hall, erected in 1869, and now being demolished; and the Hongkong Jank building, completed in 1888, and shortly to be pulled down! The Supreme Court building was completed at the beginning of 1912, and was opened on January 15 of that year by Sir Frederick Lugard, then Governor of the Colony.
A brief history of the Court Houses of Hongkong might be given here. We find in the old chronicles hat building of a Court House on the site of the present Masonic Hall in Zetland Street was commenced in 1841. It was not until three years later a matter for complaint at the time ) that a Supreme Court was opened in premises in Wellington Street, on October 1, 1844, the event being accompanied by the customary pomp and ceremony.
244
COURES( 2 )
ILLUSTRATION.
This old building has probably since been pulled down it was in use until 1848, when the Supreme Court was moved to what was then known as Exchange Building, in Queen's Road, where China Building now stands. The portico pillars, of this old building can be seen to the right-hand side of the shotograph of Queen's Road Central published the other day 7 21-8 33.). It was purchased by the Bovernment from Messrs. Dent and Co., in 1847, the premises were in use until 1912, when the Supreme Court moved to its present quarters.
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It might not be out of place ot note that the first Barrister admitted to practice at the Supreme Court was Mr. Henry Charles Sirr, who had been called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1833. He was admitted on the date of the opening of the Court, but had to share the distinction with the first Attorney General of the Colony. Mr. Paul Ivy. Sterling, who had been celled to the Irish Bar in 1829.
Any student of the history of Hongkong will find much of interest in a collection of relics connected with Supreme Court cases and official occasions, which is kept in a glass- fronted cupboard in the office of the Chief Justice's clerk. Apparently the collection was commenced in the Fifties and it appears to have been fostered largely by the successive clerks in that office. There are nibs taken from the pens with which various significant documente were signed for example, to come to fairly recent times, the pen with which Sir William Rees Davies, a former Chief Justice signed a death sentence and the pen with which Sir R. E. Stubbs signed his oath on taking office as Governor of the Colony, The exhibits are largely a " orime museum " with such things as an axe reputed to have been used in a murder, counterfeit coins, and forged notes, butone such relic at least is of historic interest. This is a piece of the poisoned bread used as a Court exhibit when the Chinese master baker was tried in 1857 on a charge of trying to poison the European
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