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ment upon which they might build a community hall.
In 1877 the Governor promised the Chinese they should have a site at Possession Point. The Surveyor-General was instructed to make the arrangements. For some reason there was no further action on the matter.
The request for a site was renewed in 1880 under a new administration. The Chinese hoped that the Governor, John Pope Hennessy, who was always kindly disposed to the needs of the Chinese, would support their request and take action.
Their hopes were not disappointed. He promised to recommend a grant of $10,000 towards building costs and the allocation of a site at Possession Point.
His proposal was not looked upon with favour by his Executive Council. Possession Point had been previously designated as the Chinese Recreation Ground and was the only public open space in the crowded Chinese section of the city.
Mr. Osbert Chadwick, an authority on civic sanitation and hygiene, had been brought to Hongkong to investigate conditions and make recommendations for improvement. He designated the open space at Possession Point as an absolutely necessary “lung” for a dangerously overcrowded neighbourhood.
This point was raised in opposition to the recommendation of the Governor and the project was put on the shelf.
The plan for a community hall was revived, however, in 1887 on the occasion of Hongkong's celebration of the 50th year of the reign of Queen Victoria. The opportunity for the Chinese to use the jubilee as an occasion for raising funds for a hall arose out of the inability of the whole community to agree on a project which could serve as a lasting memorial of the celebration.
Hongkong's planning for the jubilee was characterised by community division. It aggravated the distinctions of class and race which were a prominent feature of life in Hongkong in the nine-
198
ment upon which they might build a community hall.
In 1877 the Governor promised the Chinese they should have a site at Possession Point. The Surveyor-General was instructed to make the arrangements. For some reason there was no further action on the matter.
The request for a site was renewed in 1880 under a new admin- istration. The Chinese hoped that the Governor, John Pope Hennessy, who was always kindly disposed to the needs of the Chinese, would support their request and take action.
Their hopes were not disappointed. He promised to recom- mend a grant of $10,000 towards building costs and the allocation of a site at Possession Point.
His proposal was not looked upon with favour by his Executive Council. Possession Point had been previously designated as the Chinese Recreation Ground and was the only public open space in the crowded Chinese section of the city.
Mr. Osbert Chadwick, an authority on civic sanitation and hy- giene, had been brought to Hongkong to investigate conditions and make recommendations for improvement. He designated the open space at Possession Point as an absolutely necessary “lung" for a dangerously overcrowded neighbourhood.
This point was raised in opposition to the recommendation of the Governor and the project was put on the shelf.
The plan for a community hall was revived, however, in 1887 on the occasion of Hongkong's celebration of the 50th year of the reign of Queen Victoria. The opportunity for the Chinese to use the jubilee as an occasion for raising funds for a hall arose out of the inability of the whole community to agree on a project which could serve as a lasting memorial of the celebration.
Hongkong's planning for the jubilee was characterised by com- munity division. It aggravated the distinctions of class and race which were a prominent feature of life in Hongkong in the nine-
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