Sessional_Paper_1884-1885 — Page 107

CIRCULAR.

The Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 1886. (Papers respecting.)

Presented to the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

DOWNING STREET,

No. 9.

27th November, 1884.

SIR,---I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copies of a Memorandum, which I have received from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and which was prepared after previous full interchange of views between His Royal Highness and myself, notifying the appointment by the Queen of a Royal Commission, and describing the proposed arrangements for the purpose of organizing and carrying out an Exhibition in London, during the year 1886, of the Products, Manufactures, and Resources of Her Majesty's Colonial and Indian Empire.

It only remains for me to recommend, this undertaking to the most favourable consideration of your Government, and I rely with confidence on your own personal efforts to secure a worthy repre- sentation of the Colony under your Government.

I cannot doubt that the Government and people of Hongkong will share my satisfaction at learn-. ing that this important undertaking will have the advantage of the personal superintendence of the Prince of Wales, whose administrative capacity is as well known to you as the warm interest with which His Royal Highness regards all matters connected with the Colonial Empire.

Governor Sir G. F. BOWEN, G.C.M.G.

I have, &c.,

DERBY.

MEMORANDUM relative to the COLONIAL AND INDIAN EXHIBITION, to be held in London in the year 1886, for the consideration of the Government of Hongkong.

MARLBOROUGH HOUSE, LONDON, S.W.,

24th November, 1884.

The Official Gazette of the 18th of November, 1884, a copy of which is enclosed, notifies that Her Majesty the Queen has been pleased to nominate a Royal Commission for the purpose of organizing and carrying out in London, during the year 1886, an Exhibition of the Products, Manufactures and Resources of the Colonial and Indian Empire.

In assuming the active Presidency of this Commission, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is desirous of having the opportunity of bringing prominently under notice the development and progress which have been made in the various parts of the British Empire, and His Royal Highness trusts that a more intimate knowledge may thus be obtained of the vast fields for enterprise which exist throughout the British Dominions.

It has been already stated that His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales intends to take the same Executive part as in the case of the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1878, and His Royal Highness has, with the consent of Her Majesty's Government, selected Sir Philip Cunliffe-Owen, K.C.M.G., C.B., C.I.E., Director of the South Kensington Museum, to act as Secretary to the Royal Commission. His Royal Highness intends, in any matters of special importance, to address himself personally to the Executive Commissioners of the respective Colonies; but he would be obliged by all general correspond- ence being carried on with the Secretary to the Royal Commission.

As regards the method of representation to be adopted by each Colony or group of Colonies at the Exhibition, His Royal Highness specially wishes that, if possible, a single Executive Commissioner should be appointed, with whom might be associated, if necessary, not more than two or three Assistant- Commissioners.

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