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public meeting, had to be abandoned after the official committee wrote to the Government about it.
In order to get an estimate of the cost to the public to complete the park, the committee asked "to be furnished with a plan of the proposed park, with an estimate of probable cost and what proportion Government was willing to contribute.”
The Government rejected the offer of assistance from the public. The committee was reminded of the reply the Governor had given back in February, when the question of the jubilee was first raised.
The Government expected the public to initiate its own plans for the celebration. Now, however, it appeared the community was looking for a Government decision before it acted. The public should plan and carry through its own scheme independent of the Government.
As for the park, the committee was reminded it had already been approved by the Secretary of State as a Government venture, therefore, “His Excellency thinks it would not be right for him to suggest any alteration of that original proposal which was estimated to cost $25,000 and will be carried out as soon as the financial position of the Colony warrants the expenditure.”
The committee had little alternative but to resign, as it was impossible in the face of the Government's position to carry out the mandate given them to create a park as a jubilee memorial.
CHINESE GO AHEAD WITH THEIR OWN MEMORIAL
As Hongkong's expatriates plunged into confusion over their plans to observe the jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887, the Chinese moved steadily forward with plans for their own project and bringing it to fruition.
One major reason the foreigners had reached an impasse was because they had not included the Chinese in the initial planning for the celebration. The co-operation of the Chinese was essential
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Page 256
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public meeting, had to be abandoned after the official committee wrote to the Government about it.
In order to get an estimate of the cost to the public to complete the park, the committee asked "to be furnished with a plan of the proposed park, with an estimate of probable cost and what propor- tion Government was willing to contribute.”
The Government rejected the offer of assistance from the pub- lic. The committee was reminded of the reply the Governor had given back in February, when the question of the jubilee was first raised.
The Government expected the public to initiate its own plans for the celebration. Now, however, it appeared the community was looking for a Government decision before it acted. The public should plan and carry through its own scheme independent of the Government.
As for the park, the committee was reminded it had already been approved by the Secretary of State as a Government venture, therefore, “His Excellency thinks it would not be right for him to suggest any alteration of that original proposal which was estimat- ed to cost $25,000 and will be carried out as soon as the financial position of the Colony warrants the expenditure.”
The committee had little alternative but to resign, as it was impossible in the face of the Government's position to carry out the mandate given them to create a park as a jubilee memorial.
CHINESE GO AHEAD WITH THEIR OWN MEMORIAL
As Hongkong's expatriates plunged into confusion over their plans to observe the jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887, the Chinese moved steadily forward with plans for their own project and bringing it to fruition.
One major reason the foreigners had reached an impasse was because they had not included the Chinese in the initial planning for the celebration. The co-operation of the Chinese was essential
Page 255Page 256
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