Sessional_Paper_1898 — Page 6

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Mr. CHATER addressed the Council as follows:-

Your Excellency, we have listened with much interest to the announcement you have just made, which, although not unexpected, when thus officially spoken emphasises its reality. Speaking on my own behalf and, I trust, on behalf of my unofficial colleagues present, I desire to express my sincere appreciation of the able manner in which you have for the past six years presided over this Council, and of the unfailing courtesy and forbearance shown by you to all. During your Excellency's administration many important Ordinances have been added to the Statute Book and many important public works accomplished and others inaugurated. This Council. as well as the Executive Council, has been enlarged, and the Colony thereby afforded more voice in the control of its affairs. Your Excellency arrived in this Colony at a time of deep depression. You will leave it in a condition of renewed prosperity with everything on a sounder basis; and this has come to pass in spite of some adverse conditions, namely, the continued dullness of trade and two outbreaks of plague. Under your auspices most important sanitary legislation has been carried through, greatly to the benefit of public health, though in the face of a good deal of opposition; and the city now is in a far better position to grapple with epidemics than it has ever been before. Naturally, there has been some friction occasionally and our debates at times have been very warm indeed, but your Excellency has held the reins with tact and impartiality, and now in laying them down you have the great satisfaction of knowing that you will leave the Colony better in every respect than you found it. I feel only too conscious that I am unable to do justice to the occasion, but I trust that my unofficial colleagues, some of whoin will no doubt address you themselves, will supplement my feeble attempt at expressing the general appre- ciation of your Excellency's successful and popniar administration, which has also been the longest since the founding of this Colony. And now, Sir, in bidding you officially farewell I have only to say that although we may not meet at this table or in this Council Chamber again, yet we shall cherish with deep and lively recollection the urbanity with which you have always presided over our deliberations. In the best sense of the term I am sure we all join in wishing you, Sir, good-bye.

Dr. Ho KAI addressed the Council as follows:---

Sir, I fully concur with the remarks that have fallen from the lips of the Honourable the Senior Unofficial Member. I have been with him in the sentiments he has expressed in regard to your Excellency. For the past six years your Excellency has most successfully presided over this Council and during that long period your consummate tact, your wise discretion, and your unfailing courtesy have promoted good feeling and harmony amongst Honourable Members and increased the usefulness of their deliberations. Whether we agreed or disagreed upon a measure or a subject, whether we engaged in heated discussion or pleasant banter, the decorum and dignity of the Council have always been maintained. During the six years of your administration we have passed many useful measures and have revised and improved a great many old Ordinances, but I venture to say that in no instance has any harassing or embarrassing legislation been passed. So far as the public works of the Colony are concerned, when your Excellency assumed office there were many useful works in progress and in point of completion, but your Excellency has inaugurated many useful works and when they are completed-such as the Peak roads the road leading from Plantation Road to Magazine Gap, the new houses that are to be built in Taipingshan, and other new works which your Excellency has caused to be inaugurated all these, when completed, I say, will remind the Colony of your energetic and what I might call sanitary government. The financial position of the Colony has steadily improved from year to year under your Excellency's administra- tion, and now I venture to think that the colonial finances are so much improved as to be placed on a sound and healthy basis, pessimistic views to the contrary notwithstanding. Now, Sir, in bidding you farewell to-day I wish to tender you my personal thanks for unvarying kind assistance I have received at your hands as the senior representative of the Chinese community. I have on more than one occasion—in fact, on many occasions-made representations on behalf of the Chinese to your Excellency. You have always received such representations most kindly and subjected them to your kindest consideration. You have granted a great number of requests, and the few occasions on which you have found refusal necessary you have carefully explained the reason why the requests could not be granted. I wish to thank you further for the interest you have always taken in Chinese affairs and most especially for the increased representation which you have given to them on this Council. The honourable member whom you have so happily nominated to be the junior member of this Council will represent the Chinese in many ways much better than I, and will render the greatest assistance in looking after and protecting their interests. Now, I am sure that my honourable friend, Mr. Wer A YUK, will join with me in assuring your Excellency that by this act alone you have won the lasting gratitude of the Chinese com- munity of this Colony. Now, Sir, as probably this is the last time you will preside over us in this Council I, as a member of this Council, wish you good-bye and all future happiness and prosperity.