7. Among other works of public importance, the new Victoria College and the Quarantine Hospital at Stone Cutters' Island are now being actively pushed forward; while the works in the Tytam Valley in connexion with the extension of the Water Supply continue to make as favourable progress as the difficult nature of that undertaking will permit. Preparations are being made for the early erection of the new Central Market. The funds required to defray the cost of draining the marshy lands in the Wong-nei-chong Valley, with the view to their conversion into a Public Park, having been voted by you, no avoidable delay will take place in commencing a work so desirable on Sanitary and on other public grounds.
8. With respect to Public Education; the Report of the Government Inspector, which has been laid on your table, bears witness to satisfactory progress. It will be seen that 'both the number of Primary Schools under Government supervision in the Colony, and the number of Scholars attending such schools have been more than doubled in the last ten years.' It is, moreover, particularly gratifying to observe that this increase extends to the female as well as to the male portion of the community. At the same time, it is 'certain that great advantage will be gained for the higher education through the erection of the new Victoria College, and through the foundation of Government Scholarships enabling a certain number of promising young men to complete their professional studies in England.
9. Much attention has been given during the past year to the improvement of the drill and discipline of our Police Corps, which is now a very efficient body. One favourable result is the diminution of serious and violent crime. Successful efforts have also been made towards the suppression of gambling-houses; an object to which the principal members of the Chinese community rightly attach special importance; and to which the Honour- able Member who so worthily represents in this Council his Chinese countrymen recently called attention.
10. I have now glanced at the internal affairs of this Colony under the several heads of Finance, Legislation, Public Works. Education, and Police. But, Honourable Gentlemen, it should never be forgotten that Hongkong is the centre of British power, influence, and commerce in this quarter of the globe; and that, as I know on the very highest authority, the foremost statesmen of England attach far greater importance to this Colony than to other Colonies of infinitely larger territorial extent. Consequently, we are here deeply interested in the stirring events passing around us, and especially in the concerns of the vast neighbouring Empire. I congratulate you on the prospect of permanent peace between France and China, notwithstanding some fresh disturbances in Tonquin; for the outbreak of war could not fail to prove a grave interruption to the trade of this Colony. I congratulate you also on the probable prospect of, ere very long, seeing China thrown open, through the extension of railways and telegraphs, to the influences of European commerce and civilization. I have not omitted to suggest both to the Imperial Govern- ment and to the British Minister at Peking that it is highly desirable to press alike on the French and on the Chinese Governments the importance of opening to general trade the rich South-eastern Provinces of China, and also those extensive countries in the Indo- Chinese Peninsula, which have lately been brought under the rule or protectorate of France.
11. And now, Honourable gentlemen, in conclusion, permit me to thank you on my own behalf, as the Representative of the Queen, for the valuable advice and assistance which you have afforded me during the recent Session, and for the zeal and assiduity with which you have applied yourselves to the questions of public interest which I have proposed for your consideration. It is alike my pride and happiness to recognise the cordial relations existing between myself and all the members of the Council. It is generally agreed, moreover, that your conduct has already fully justified my efforts to procure the consent of the Imperial Government to an enlargement of the Un-official element in your body, with the view of securing a more adequate representation of the opinions and feelings of the entire Community. You have indeed left little to be desired by the warmest friends of Hongkong, whether here or elsewhere, except that, under the favour of the Supreme Ruler, future Sessions may maintain the high character, that the loyalty, moderation, and public spirit with which you have commenced the exercise of your privileges and the performance of your duties, have already earned for the re-constructed Legislature of this Colony.
12. I now prorogue this Council to the 19th day of next November."
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