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Herman Merivale, Lord Blachford, and Lord Cardwell; in 1869 Representative of the Colonial Office on the East African Slave Trade Com- mission; in 1873 Superintendent of the Colonial Court at the Vienna Universal Exhibition; in 1875 Governor of the Bahamas; in 1881 of the Windwards Islands; in 1885 of Trinidad, and in 1891 of this colony; recipient of the Board of Trade's thanks on one occasion, and of those of the Imperial Government on another, yon have passed from grade to grade with energy and credit, and Hongkong might well feel confidence when its government was entrusted to your keeping. The result has justified those who were responsible for your appointment, and this community tenders you its sincere congratula tions on a career which has recently been worthily honoured by the bestowal upon you by the Queen of the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George.
During your Governorship-a record Gover- norship we believe in point of length of residence in the colony-you have again and again shown by your outspoken sympathy the interest which you feel in the cause of education, a cause the beneficent aims and principles of which are the common welfare of humanity.
Nor, whilst living amongst us, have you forgotten the rights of hospitality. These you have exercised in a generous and courteous way, and your British partiality for sports of all kinds has been fully attested by the en- couragement and assistance which you have given to the pastimes of the colony.
Regretfully we have now to realise that the time has come to bid you farewell, and in doing so we beg to assure yon of our heartfelt wishes for your well-being, and our earnest hope that, wherever your future path may lie, prosperity and happiness may always be yours.
-We are, sir, your obedient servants,
(Here follow signatures)
Sir JOHN CARRINGTON continued-Your Ex- cellency, I will take, leave to add but a few words to the sentiments contained in the ad- dress. In the first place, I would venture to say that this address accurately expresses the feelings of the inhabitants of this colony on your Excellency's laying down the reins of office and departing from its shores. (Applause). Sir, I had the privilege of knowing you a good many years ago in the West Indies. You were then the Governor of some of those fair but now un- fortunate isles, and I recollect that you were esteemed amongst the most able, enlightened, and progressive Governors whom those islands had ever known. (Applause). I remember, Sir, that you said to me on more than one occasion that you had been a long time in the West and would like to try your hand in the that you
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
East. Your wish was gratified. You have now for more than six years lived and ruled amongst us, and now you are laying down the cares of office and leaving the East. I think, Sir, you may be gratified by finding that we believe your success has been the same in the East as it was in the West, and that you leave behind you a record of honourable and successful administration of the affairs of the colony. (Applause.) There is one charac- teristic of your administration with regard to which I should like to say a few words. Both in the West and also here in the East you have had to rule over colonies in which there was great diversity of race and great diversity of creed. I cannot recollect during all my long acquaintance with you, Sir, that anyone ever charged you with doing otherwise than holding the balance fairly and evenly between those diverse races and creeds. (Applause.) You
February 12, 1898!
they may also have a place in your good feelings. Their only regret is that the Colonial ings. I will now conclude, Sir, by expressing regulations prevent them from presenting to orally what the address has already said, that you a more valuable gift, one more worthy of we wish wherever you may go you may continue your acceptance. Notwithstanding this, how that long and honorable career of usefulness to ever, they venture to hope that Your Excellency your fellow men which has distinguished you will kindly accept this address, which may heretofore, that you may have many blessings serve at some future time to remind you that in showered upon you, and that Heaven may send this far eastern colony of the British Empire happiness to yourself and happiness to those you have many admiring and grateful native around you. (Applause) I now, Sir, on behalf friends. I will now proceed to read a free of those who are present in this hall and also English version of the address:~~~ on behalf of those who are not here, bid you in The Respectful Address of the Chinese Commu- (Ap- nity of Hongkong to H.E. SIR WILLIAM the truest sense of the word farewell.
ROBINSON, G.C.M.G., Governor. plause.)
In the year 1891, Your Excellency was ap pointed by the Queen to be Governor and Com- mander-in-Chief of the colony, of Hongkong, since which time you have. most successfully governed as the representative of the liberal policy of Her Majesty, to the great joy and satisfaction of all classes of this community.
HIS EXCELLENCY, who was received with loud cheering said-Sir John Carrington, ladies and gentlemen, it is quite beyond my power, on this somewhat trying occasion, to find words in which I can adequately express to you my beartfelt thanks for the address and beautiful album which you have just presented to me. I shall place them amongst my most valued records. You have referred, Sir, to my past career. Let me assure you that during the whole of that time I have had no other ambition than to serve my Queen and the colonies over which I have presided. (Applause.) The only reward a Governor can look for is the approbation of his Sovereign; the confidence of the colonists, and the success of those measures which he has put forward in the belief that they will be beneficial to the welfare and stability of the colony in which his lat has been cast. (Applause.) I have received Her Majesty's approbation; I believe the legislation which I have had a hand in here has been and will be of advantage to Hongkong, and ap. parently I have won your confidence. (Ap. plause). That, gentlemen, affords me the highest satisfaction; for in this community is to be found that intelligence, that sense of right, and that appreciation of duty, which is duty's best reward. Applause.) Ladies and gentle. men, I cordially and fully reciprocate your good wishes, and wherever my future path may lie, shall never forget Hongkong, and its energetic and generous community. (Applause.) I cannot attempt to thank Sir John Carrington for the kind speech he has delivered, in addition to this address. I can only say I heartily thank you for your extreme kindness to me, and I am ex- tremely sorry to leave the colony. (Applause.)
THE CHINESE ADDRESS.
The time has now arrived for Your Excel- lency to leave office, and we mach regret that our earnest desire to delay your departure can- not be gratified.
We beg to assure Your Excellency, however, that our admiration and esteem for you can never be effaced from our hearts, and to give expression to our lasting sentiments, we now' beg to present you with this Address, of which the following is a free translation
Representative of a noble race, ború to be a ruler of men, you are possessed of incomparable` understanding and wisdom.
Firm as the gnarled pine, and straight as an z arrow, your unsullied reputation is like a gem without flaw and clear as ice.
Endowed with a noble mind and a brave heart, you are fitted to be a leader of men in peace
war.
From the time of your assumption of the Government of this colony, you have spared neither time nor pains in the discharge of your1 many duties,
The result is that the people under you now live in safety and comfort, ruled by just laws which are administered by competent officials.
With a nature as refined as pure gold, and character as untarnished as a perfect gem, you have abolished all bad and oppressive laws and have maintained good order and government
mongst us.
a
These and the other improvements effected by you, while continuing undiminished in splendour the glorious prestige of the past, are
source of boundless benefit to us.
May Heaven bestow upon Your Excellency countless blessings and grant you longlife, health, and happiness.
his Excellency and said The original has been sent on board, being of a very bulky nature. This is the bill of lading and the key of the box and photograph of the address. (Applause.)
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI then handed the address to
His EXCELLENCY said-Dr. Ho Kai, ladies and gentlemen, I did not know that this address. thoroughly unacquainted with its contents until was going to be presented to me, and I was it was translated by Dr. Ho Kai. I receive it with a great deal of pleasure. It is extremely gratifying to me to know, as Sir John Car. rington said just now, that I have governed this place without fear, favour, or illwill, or without regard to class, colour, or creed. (Ap. plause.) As you said, I promised in my first address I made in this colony that the Chinese people who are a very important section of the community would find in me a Governor and a friend, and that I would assist them in all have done, and I shall cherish this as a most their reasonable aspirations. This, I believe, I
interesting record, a most interesting gift, all my days. On the eve of my departure, I beg you will express to the Chinese community, Dr. Ho Kai, my gratitude for their kindness to me. (Applause.)
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI sail-Your Excellency, on behalf of the Chinese community of Hong- kong I have the honour to present to you for your kind acceptance an address written in Chinese and embroidered on silk. While joining most heartily in the presentation of the general address from the whole community to Your Excellency, and endorsing fully the sentiments expressed therein, my fellow Chinese citizens have felt it to be their pleasant duty to present you with a special address expressing to you, Sir, their feeling of deep regret at your departure from this colony, and assuring you of their profound admiration and esteem for you as a Governor and friend. At the vary com- mencement of your term of office you promised the Chinese that they would find in you not only a Governor but also a friend, and no one knows better than the Chinese themselves that this promise has been more than fulfilled. (p. plause. For, without your strong and favour. able representation to the Secretary of State, their immense interests would not be so well represented and looked after in the Legislative Council as they are now; without your ready sympathy and kindly consideration, they would still be under the irksome regulations requiring every one of them when out at night to carry a pass and light; without your staunch support and expense of those of another. But, Sir, we do generous assistance the new house of the Po not come here to-day to speak of those things; Leong Kuk would not have been built and the we are not thinking of the Governor who is work of that charitable society would not have leaving ns, but we are thinking of the man been so effective and useful; and lastly, without who is leaving us, and we feel that while we are your friendly advice and personal influence many losing an able and successful Governor we are improvements in some of the native institutions.
Mr. H. N. MoDx, in presenting His Excel- doing more than that we are losing a kind would not have been made with the least pos-lency with a duplicate of the Jubilee prayer of friend. (Applause.) Sir, you wilt in the next sible amount of friction. In short, Sir, under few minutes leave the shores of Hongkong. It your six years' term of office, the condition of the Parsee Community to Her Majesty the may be that you will return to them no more; the Chinese in this colony has greatly been im- Queen, and placing the casket with the prayer it may be that few of us gathered here in this proved, their interest has been fully protected, Sir, on behalf of the Parsee community
for conveyance home, said hall to-day will eyer see your face again. I their liberty extended, their welfare promoted. of Hongkong I, its President, have the beg to assure you that you take with you the and their representations respected. For all
honour to ask Your Excellency to for good will and kind feelings of the people of this these the Chinese are truly grateful to Your Ex- colony, that they will always bear you in longcellency, and in presenting this address, they ward to Her Majesty this silver casket and kindly remembrance, and they trust that wish in a measure to show their grateful feel containing on a silken scroll the prayer and
have, I think, never sought to advance the interests of one race or creed or class at the
...
THE PARSEE PRAYER.
in his care
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