February 2, 1901.]
platform was reserved for officials and others as- sociated with the Governor in the Proclamation. The route from Government House was lined with troops-the 3rd Madras Infantry, the 22nd Bombay Infantry, and the 6th Bengal Lancers. His Excellency arrived punctually at four o'clock. He was accompanied by Lady Blake and Miss Blake, His Honour Sir John Carring- ton, Kt., C.M.G., Right Rev. Bishop Hoare, Rear Admiral Sir James Bruce, K.C.M.G., Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary, Hon. W. Meigh Goodman, Q.C., Attorney General; Hon. R. D. Ormsby, Director of Public Works; Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G., Captain Superintendent of Police; Commodore Powell, C.B.; His Honour T. Ser combe Smith, Acting Puisne Judge; Hon. A. M. Thomson, Colonial Treasurer; Hon. C. P. Chater, C.M.G.; Hon. J. J. Keswick ; Mr. R. F. Johuston, Private Secretary; and Captain E. D. Sanders, Hongkong Volunteers, Hon. A.D.C. His Excellency immediately stepped to the front of the platform, while the Royal Standard was hoisted on the flag-staff, and proceeded to read the Proclamation, the military and naval men standing at the salute and the civilians with bared heads while he did so. At the con- clusion the Royal Salute was given, the massed bands of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, the 3rd Madras Infantry, and the 22nd Bombay Infan- try, who had been placed at the north-east corner of the New Parade Ground, playing "God save the King," the regimental colours being lowered in the meanwhile.
The following is the Proclamation :---
Proclamation.
1
WHEREAS it hath pleased Almighty God to call to His mercy Our late SOVEREIGN | LADY QUEEN VICTORIA of Blessed and Glorious Memory, by whose decease the Im- perial Crown of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland' and all other her late Majesty's dominions is solely and rightfully come to the High and Mighty PRINCE AL- BERT EDWARD, We
Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief
of the Colony of Hongkong and Dependencies, and
Vice-Admiral of the same;
Major-General WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, Com
panion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, tommanding His Ma jesty's Forces in China and Hongkong: Rear-Admiral vir JAMES ANDREW Thomas Bruce, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Or- der of Saint Michael and Saint George; The Right Reverend JOSEPH Charler Hoane, D.D.,
Bishop of Victoria;
Sir JOHN WORRELL CARRINGTON, Knight Com-
panion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, D.C.L., LL.D, Chief Justice;
Commodore FRANCIS POWELL, Companion of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath; JAMES HALDANE STEWART Lockhart, Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Colonial Secretary)
WILLIAM MXigh Goodman, Barrister-
at-Law, Attorney General, ALEXANDER MCDONALD THOMSON,
M.A., Treasurer.
ROBERT DAly Ormber, Director of
Public Works, FRANCIS HENRY MAY, B.A., Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Cap- tain Euperintendent of Police, CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George,
JAMES JOHnstone KesWICK,
THOMAS SERCOMBE SMI] H. B.A., LL.B
Acting Puiene Judge ;
1
BASIL REGINALD HAMILTON Taylor,]
#arbour Master,
'O KAL. Barrister-at-Law,
RODERICK MACKENZIE GRAY,
JOHN JOSEPH FRANCIS Barrister-at-
WEI YUX,
JOHN THURBURN,
SIT THOMAS JACKSON, Knight.
Law,
DAVID ROBERT FENTON CRAWFORD,
WONG SHING.
HO*MUSJEK MERWANJEE LEHTA, WILLIAM DANBY, M.I.C E.,
HORMUSJER NOWTOJEE MODY,
JAMES YARDELET VEBNON VEĽNON, WILLIAM HARTIGAN, M.D..
Honour able Mom- bers of the Executive
lative and Legis-
Council.
Honour- able 'em-
bers of the (Legisla
tive Coun. oil
;
CHINA OVERLAND TRADË REPORT.
the HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE AL- BERT EDWARD is now by the death of OUR LATE SOVEREIGN of happy and glorious memory become our only lawful and rightful LIEGE LORD EDWARD THE SEVENTH BY THE GRACE OF GOD, KING OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, DE- FENDER OF THE FAITH, EMPEROR OF INDIA, SUPREME LORD IN AND OVER THE COLONY OF HONGKONG AND ITS DEPENDENCIES, to whom we do acknowledge all faith and constant obedience with all hearty and humble affection, beseeching God by whom Kings and Queens do reign to bless THE ROYAL PRINCE EDWARD THE SEVENTH with long and happy years to reign over us.
Proclaimed this 29th day of January, 1901. The troops having come to the order again, His EXCELLENCY, addressing them, said Remove your head-dress and join me in giving three cheers for His Majesty King Edward VII., taking the time from me.
This invitation was heartily responded to. His EXCELLENCY, addressing Major General Gascoigne, said-"General, will you kindly dismiss the parade," and then left the plat form.
The assembly then dispersed, hundreds waiting in the adjoining thoroughfares to witness the departure of the troops.
THE CRISIS: TELEGRAMS.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.]
SHANGHAI, 25th January, 9.1 p.m. The Germans propose to open 50 miles of railway in Shantung from Tsingtao and Kiaochow on the 1st March. The German mining engineers are resuming operations
at Weihsien.
Yuan Shikai is inviting missionaries to return to their stations within his jurisdic- tion, promising both foreigners and native converts to Christianity full protection.
A Hsianfu despatch reports that Tsen, the Governor of Shensi, is preparing hundreds of carts for the purpose of conveying back the Imperial Court to Peking at the end of February. The Empress Dowager is awa- kening to activity. The Emperor is unwell.
SHANGHAI, 27th January, 7.55 p.m. All celebration of the Kaiser's birthday was abandoned at Shanghai to-day. The warships dressed, except H.M.S. Alacrity, which retained the Royal Standard.
Among the charges brought, the reaction- ary Censors accused Wang Wen-shao of inspiring the Yangtsze compact.
Native officials understand that the (hi- uese Government has consented to the be- heading of Prince Chuang and Yu Hsien and the perpetual dismissal of (hao Shu- cho.
Jaesche, the Governor of Kiaochow, died to-day of typhoid.
SHANGHAI, 28th January, 7.6 p.m. Peking native official telegrams state that Prince Chuang and Yu Hsien were beheaded yesterday.
Li Hung-chang is seriously ill and deli-
rious.
Native officials at Shanghai report that peace negotiations have been broken off.
Shanghai, 29th January, 8.6 p.m. Yung Lu is telegraphing to all the pro- vinces, demanding the prompt despatch to Justices the Imperial Court of all available supplies.
of the Peace for
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
A COUNCIL.
98
of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held On Thursday afternoon, 31st ult., a meeting in the Council Chamber at the Government Offices there being present
BLAKE, G.C.M.G.),
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOB (Sir HENRY
C.M.G. (Commanding the Troops).
His EXCELLENCY Major-General GASCOIGNE,
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, (),M.G. (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. W. MEIGH GOODMAN, QC. (At- torney-General).
Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer). Hon. R. D. ORMSBY (Director of Public Works).
Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Captain Su- perintendent of Police).
Hon. BASIL TAYLOR (Acting Harbour Master). Hon. C. P. CHATER, G.M.G. Hon. Dr. Ho KAI. Hon. J. THUrburn, Hon. R. M. Gray, Hon. J. J.KESWICK. Hon. WEI A YUK.
Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Acting Clerk of Coun- cils).
TAKING THE OATH.
Before the ordinary business was proceeded with the members of the Legislative Council who do not belong to the Executive Council (the members of which had already taken the oath) took the oath of allegiance to His Majesty King Edward V11.
1
A E:SOLUTION OF LOYALTY TO KING EDWARD PASSED.
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR said-Be- fore we proceed to business. I desire to propose for the acceptance of this Council a resolution expressing our heart-felt loyalty and devotion to His Majesty King Edward VII. Two days ago, joined by many of the principal inhabitants of this colony, we proclaimed his Majesty as our rightful sovereign Lord. We did so according to the form prescribed by the ancient custom of England and in the nearest available centre of the population, and we did so solemnly and with hearts full, believing that a worthy King, instinct in every fibre with the best feelings of an Englishman, had been called by the grace of God to reign over us, but feeling that we proclaimed and acclaimed His Majesty in the presence of the yet unburied remains of His Majesty's incomparable Queen Mother, of Her whose name we have all lisped in our ear- liest childhood and who throughout our lives has been to us the embodiment of everything that was great and good and noble and queenly. His Majesty's life has long been public pro- perty. We all know him and we love him as a man for personal qualities which will brighton kingly virtues. He has never in his past life been found wanting in his public duties, and only those whose good fortune has placed them in close connection with His Majesty can realise how anxiously as Prince of Wales he devoted himself to the furtherance of all goed works in the public interest. I enjoyed the high honour of His Majesty's notice, and I feel how true is the instinct of the British people
that the crown of our best-beloved and venerated Queen has descended upon a successor who will Le a great and worthy Sovereign Lord over this vast Empire. I beg to propose to you the following resolution:-
"We, the members of the Legislative Council of Hongkong, beg with profound respect to express to your Majesty, on the occasion of your accession to the Throne of your Majesty's ancestors, our sentiments of devotion and loyalty to your Majesty. We pray that God's blessing may rest upon the successor of the revered and noble Queen whose memory is so lovingly enshrined in the hearts of her people, and we pray that to your Majesty there may be granted a happy and glorious reign over a united and prosperous people."
Prince Ching is arranging to send on be--(Applause.) the Colony half of China a special envoy to condole
The Hon. C. P. CHÁTER said:-Your Excel- lenoy, it is with very great pleasure that I riso of Hong with King Edward on the death of Queen to second the resolution just proposed, which Victoria and to felicitate him on his acces-will, I am sure, be carried with acclamation in sion.
kong;
Do now hereby with one full voice and consent of tongue and heart publish and proclaim that
this Council and be fervently endorsed by all The reported rupture of negotiations is His Majesty's loyal subjects in this colony. For I venture to say that, though one of the now denied.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.