Sessional_Paper_1887-1888 — Page 295

No. 10

88.

HONGKONG.

PROPOSED LIGHT-HOUSE ON GAP ROCK.

(In continuation of No. 20 of 1887, and No. 10 of 1888.)

Presented to the Legislative Council, by Command of His Excellency the Governor,

MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

G. WILLIAM DES VEUX.

The Governor has pleasure in directing to be laid on the table the further correspondence (other than confidential) which has taken place on the subject of the proposed Light-house at the Gap Rock.

Though none of the alternative proposals recently submitted by the Governor to the Chinese Government were considered altogether free from objection, an arrangement based on them has, nevertheless, been arrived at which practically secures the object in view, viz. the improvement of the Southern approach to Hongkong by the erection of a Light-house and the maintenance of a Light at a point where this convenience to shipping has long been very urgently required, and on the site which all competent authority regards as the best for the purpose.

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This arrangement is not in all respects such as might be desired; but there is excellent reason for believing that it is the most favourable that can be obtained, and that unless it were accepted, the attainment of the end desired would again be indefinitely postponed.

In this view of the arrangement, the Governor feels bound to make public acknowledgment of the service rendered, in devising and proposing it, by Sir ROBERT HART, the able Inspector-General of the Chinese Imperial Customs, who has thus found the means of furthering the interest of British trade while at the same time loyally conforming to the very natural and intelligible prejudices of the Chinese Government.

And while recognizing the means by which this benefit has been obtained, the Governor desires also to express his regret that any words used, or reported to have been used, by him in Council in connection with this question should have been considered as reflecting upon His Excellency Sir JOHN WALSHAM, Her Majesty's Minister at Pekin.

Nothing in the knowledge of the Governor has furnished any ground for such reflection; on the contrary he considers that Sir JOHN WALSHAM deserves the thanks of the Colony for taking the only course which was at all likely to achieve success, and for thus bringing to a satisfactory termination, a question which has been the subject of much futile correspondence with his predecessors.