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Mr. John Francis, a barrister who always seemed to have an opinion about correct procedure and was quick to voice it, spoke up: "It seems to me, sir, with great respect, we are having at present simply suggestions. If anyone has anything to put forward let it be put in a formal shape in writing and get it finally proposed and seconded.”
He then spoke about his own pet scheme, the Colonial Institute in London. He admitted that it was practically a lost cause, but this did not deter him. As he had not been able before the meeting to secure a seconder, he asked: "Will any gentleman do me the favour to second it." None did.
Instead Mr. Fraser-Smith, the editor of the Hongkong Telegraph, asked the chairman to instruct the meeting as to whether the resolutions passed at the previous meeting, with the exception of the one for the park, were still in force. After a lengthy discussion, it was decided the proper procedure was to start with an entirely clean slate.
The first resolution of the previous meeting was proposed, seconded and adopted expeditiously. The Honourable A. P. MacEwen proposed the second resolution: "That the celebration take the form of a permanent institution of some description to be called by Her Majesty's name, and of a fete and general rejoicings." Before it could be seconded, Mr. J. Macgregor asked if the memorial was confined to the Colony.
The chairman immediately replied that it was. Then when he proceeded to read the resolution, he realised it was not, and exclaimed, “Well, it does not say so." The admission provoked a peal of laughter. To redeem himself, the chairman commented: "But that was the intention.”
Mr. Francis objected that it might have been the intention of the last meeting to confine the memorial to the colony, in as much as when they had passed the resolution they had had the park scheme in mind, but now, if they were starting with no preconceptions, the whole thing was open.
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Mr. John Francis, a barrister who always seemed to have an opinion about correct procedure and was quick to voice it, spoke up: "It seems to me, sir, with great respect, we are having at present simply suggestions. If anyone has anything to put forward let it be put in a formal shape in writing and get it finally proposed and seconded.”
He then spoke about his own pet scheme, the Colonial Institute in London. He admitted that it was practically a lost cause, but this did not deter him. As he had not been able before the meeting to secure a seconder, he asked: "Will any gentleman do me the favour to second it." None did.
Instead Mr. Fraser-Smith, the editor of the Hongkong Tele- graph, asked the chairman to instruct the meeting as to whether the resolutions passed at the previous meeting, with the exception of the one for the park, were still in force. After a lengthy discus- sion, it was decided the proper procedure was to start with an entirely clean slate.
The first resolution of the previous meeting was proposed, seconded and adopted expeditiously. The Honourable A. P. Mac- Ewen proposed the second resolution: "That the celebration take the form of a permanent institution of some description to be called by Her Majesty's name, and of a fete and general rejoic- ings." Before it could be seconded, Mr. J. Macgregor asked if the memorial was confined to the Colony.
The chairman immediately replied that it was. Then when he proceeded to read the resolution, he realised it was not, and ex- claimed, “Well, it does not say so." The admission provoked a peal of laughter. To redeem himself, the chairman commented: "But that was the intention.”
Mr. Francis objected that it might have been the intention of the last meeting to confine the memorial to the colony, in as much as when they had passed the resolution they had had the park scheme in mind, but now, if they were starting with no preconcep- tions; the whole thing was open.
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