The-Hong-Kong-Weekly-Press-1902-04-26 — Page 5

Hongkong Weekly Press AND China Overland Trade Report All

April 26, 1902.] organisation, will long remain, We hope, Memorial of you. The record of the proceed ings of the Tung Wa Hospital Commission shews plainly the desire which has always Botnated you that fir play should be shewn to us in our efforts to do good, however faulty and insufficient they may appear to Europeans. And though the secrets of Government are well kept, we flatter ourselves that during the last ten years we have been able more than once to trace the effect of your counsels in the ction of the Government, When we recall the names of those who have been Registrar-General, we Hongkong Chinese feel, and with good reason, deeply grateful to the British Government. Your pre- decessors, Sir Cecil Smith, Sir James Russell, and Dr. Stewart, have left their mark on local Chinese politics. Their names are household names among us. In clearsightedness, ability and devotion to duty you have nobly carried on the traditions of the office, and it will be long before your name is forgotten in Hongkong or in the Leighbouring districts. It is now your lot to be transferred to Wei- haiwei. In Hongkong you have had the footsteps of your pred essors to guide you. In Weihaiwel you will be the first of a line. It will be for you to lay the foundations of a new Colony which may in time rival Hongkong in prosperity. If the foundations are laid in the same plan as those of this Colony, if our fellow countrymen, are engʊnraged as they have been here by equal law and equal rights, to trust their families and their property to the protection of the British flag, wo anticipates bright future for Weihaiwei. Under your experienced guidance we feel confident that the troubles and perplexities of a young colony will be rapidly overcome and that the traditions of British freedom will be maintained inviolate. But it is not only your public merits that have moved us to present this address; we ask to be allowed to claim you as a personal friend. Sime of us have grown up from youth to middle age with you: some of us you have known whilst boys at school Your urbanity, good-nature and tact are known to all of us. Those who pride themselves on being your friends respect you for your sympathy,

Wo good counsel and benevolence.

febl that any address to you without a reference to Mrs. Stewart Lockhart would indeed be

incomplete. We Chinese have always found in her a kind ad sympathetic friend, and we hope that such a fitting and worthy helpmate may be long spared to you. We wish you both a hearty farewell and all prosperity and happiness in your new sphere. We hope that you will accept as a slight token of our respect and esteem the accompanying book, which may serve to remind you and Mrs. Stewart Lockhart of your many Chinese friends and admirers in Hongkong.

Mr. YIP HOI HAN then read and presented to Mr. Lockhart an address on behalf of the Po Leung Kuk.

CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,

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p. culiar to itself. I am very glad, gentlemen, | Service in this Colony, have asked you to meet that you have given me this opportunity to day to us here to-day, so that we might have až thank you for all the kindness and assistance I opportarnity of bidding you a kindly farewell have.received from you in the past-kindness | before you leave Hongkeng to take up your new and assistance which have made my task an easy appointment in Weihaiwei. We thoug tit one, and which has enabled the Government better to do so to-day, rather than to delay to carry on things in a much more harmonious autil you were in the midst of the hurry and manner than would have been possible with worry incidental to emba kation, and we have out such assis'ance and co-operation. Dr. Ho prepared a short address which will be read to Kai bas referred to my connection with the you and which will, in due course, be forwarded Po Leung Kuk, the Tung Wa Hospital, and to you, when the list of signatures is complete. tho District Watchmen Committee. I can only As the hot weather approaches, ono always say that anything I have done to help these hears the annual cry. What a number of But I am institutions has been done with great pl asure, people are leaving, this season." and I shall always be glad to think that any- sorry to say that, this year, we have not only to thing I have done has been of assistance in help. face the usual migration ou leave," but we are ing these institutions to carry on the excellen losing, for all time, many whom we would have work with which they are intrusted. I am gladly retained in cu midst. (Applause.) sorry, gentlemen, that I am about to go away The familiar face of Sir Thomas Jackson, from Hongkong and to leave behind me here Mr. Thurborn, Mr. Palmer, Dr. Hartig in, Mr. those whom I have known for many years, and Gillies, and many others will be sad y missed among whom I have made so many real friends. by Hongkong residents; and in addition to our But, gentlemen, the distance from here to other losses we urɛ, next week, to lose you, Mr. Weihaiwei is not very far, and I trust that Lockhart, our genial Colonial Secretary, when I am at that place I shall have the plea (Applause.) Men of the Mark Tapley order no sure of meeting many of my Cantonese friends doubt try to cheer themselves with the proverb there. (Applause.) I have a great' belief, | that "There are as good fish in the sea as those gentlemen, in the enterprise of the Cantonese which bave come out of it," but the difficulty is race, and, without wishing to say anything to catch them when you want them, and, as we disparaging to the other aces in China, get older, we are inclined to feel more and more I trust Weihaiwei may have the ben fit of that That "a good bird in the hand is worth two in enterprise. 1 can assure them that if the Can- the bush." But we can quite understand that tonese come there I shall be only too glad to offer long and excellent service as Colonial Secretary them a very hearty welcome. (Applause.) I nght to mean 'Promotion,” and we. are alī, thank you most sincerely, gentlemen, for the very for your sake, heartily glad that you have kind references you have made to my wife. obtained it. That absolutely restless thing, I believe Thero is a general but very false impres- Time, leaves its marks upon all of us. sion that the Chinese have not that high the ancients depicted it as an old man carrying respect for their wives which exists among an hour-glass and a scythe. Through that people in Western lands (Laughter.)

glass the sands of all our lives are running is un erroneous and false impression, for rapidly, but in your case at all events, the hour-

the Chinese my knowledge of

has to d glass has to be reversed and a fresh lease of life,

in me that the wife in China, as our and, we doubt not, ope of still increased useful- country, exercises a very wholesome influence,ness and happiness is acceded you, in other especially in the Chinese community in Hong-scenes of action (Applanse.) presume the kong. (Renewed langhter.) Whilst thanking scythe was›uggestive of reaping, and we doubt that in your case the harvest-time you, gentlemen, very much indeed for the

have made

my will be, as it should be, one of happiness kind references you wife, I can only remark I heartily re-echo and satisfaction, because the good and healthy everything you have said in regard to her. seed you sowed long ago and fostered by hard (Applause.) Gentlemen, it was not necessary work and energy has now ripened into the for you to present me with this book in golden grain of public approbation-applause)- order to keep the memory of you green. as is shown by the numerous farewell addresses Nevertheless, I have much pleasure in accept which have been presented to you. As you ing it, and when I read it in Weihaiwei not only received one yesterday, but, 1 believe, it will serve to remind me of the many pleasant have also receiv, d another this morning, already, days and years which I have spent in this I will not tire you by prolonging my preliminary Colony and of my many friends in the Chinese remarks, bnt will now read you the address which we desire to present to you. (Applause.) community, who have always proved to me

The address, which was beautifully illumin- loyal and ready to help whenever I have asked them for assistance. (Hear, bear.) Gentlemen, ated and numerously signed, was as follows I must now say good-bye. I trust that before long many of us will meet again, and when WO. do meet, if it is in Weihaiwei. I shall be only two delighted to encourage as many as possible of you to stay. (Applause.) The Po Leung Kuk has done me the

with honour of presenting me a separate address in Chinese, I shall, with your permission, read my reply to them a'so in Chinese. (Hear, hear.)

to

That

with

The reading by Mr. LOCKHART of his reply to the Chinese address was received loud applause.

not

Hongkong, 1st April, 1902, To the Honourable J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G., F.R.G.S., M.R.A.S.

SIB, The Colony of Hongkong has been your home for more than twenty years, and we can. not allow you to leave the place with which you have been so long identified without asking you to recept a few words of congratulation So long ago as 1878 and our good wishes. you were appointed to a Hongkong cadetship and since that time your life has been mainly passed in this Colony and your best efforts have been directed to its interests and advance-

ment. On the call of Dr Ho KA1 three cheers and a "tiger" were given for Mr. and Mrs. Lockhart, after which the meeting dispersed.

PRESENTATION BY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND STAFF.

Mr. LOCKHART, who was loudly applauded on rising to reply, said—Mr. Chairman, Dr. Ho-Kai, and gentleman, I find it exceedingly difficult to find words adequate enough to reply to the too flattering remarks made by Dr. Ho Kai in his speech in pres nt- ing me with this address, and for the very kind expressions contained in that address itself. I take it, gentlemen, that your real object in coming hers to-day is not so much to pay a compliment to me personally as to show your high appreciation of the rule under which you have th privilege to live. (Hear, hear.) I think, gentlemen, you are quite right in appreciating the privileges of British rule, which gives freedom to ⚫very nationality, regardless of race or creed, I am very glad indeed to have the Lood fortune to have been that officer of the Govern ment who for many years was placed in intimate relations with the Chinese community. Any success that may have attended my efforts in the post of Registrar-General were almost entirely due to that hearty co-operation and ready assistance which I have received at all times from the members of the Chinese com- munity. -- Without such co-operation it would be impossible for any Government to administer in an effective manner the important affairs of a The CHAIRMAN said Mr. Lockhart, the community so large as is the Chinese Com-members of the Executive and Legislative Coun-I munity and which has customs and habits'oils and we, your fellow-members of the Civil

The services which you have re: dered to Hongkong are neither few nor unimportant.- Lu 1883, you were the Superintendent of the Opium Revenue and filled the position of Ar- sistant Colonial Secretary and Assistant Auditor General. In the following y1 ar you became Act- At the conclusion of the above functioning Registrer-General. In 1887, two years another similar ceremony took place, the Hon. later, you took your seat at the Legislative J. H. Stewart Lockhart being presented with Council of the Colboy, and in 1891 at the an illuminated address by the members of the Executive Council. In 1894 you filled the office Legislative Counci! and Government Civil of Acting Colonial Secretary, and in the succeed- Staff. The Hon. W. Meigh Goodman, K.C., ing yar took up the position of Colonial Secret. Chief Justice, presided, and among others pre-ary and Registrar-General, since which period Bent were:--Hon. A. W. Brewin, Hon. R. Mur. you have discharged the duties of the high once which you are now relinqnishing. Further, in ray Rumsey, R.N., Harbour Master; Hon. A, M. Thomson, Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Hon. U. P. the year 1898, you were appointed Special Com- missioner to report on the extension of the Chater; Dr. J. M. Atkinson, Principal Civil Medical Officer; Dr. J. W. Clark, Medical ('olony's boundaries and in 1899 Represents- Officer of Health; Mr. F. J. Badely, Acting tive of Great Britain for the delimitation For the way in Capte în Superintendent of Police; Mr. F. A of those boundaries.

which yu carried out these important Hazeland, Police Magistrate.

functions you, upon each occasion, received the thanks of the Right Honourable the Secretary: of State. On numerous Committees, dealing

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