June 7-1902.
vigour. (Applause.) If he cannot come back, then I trust that we shall one day have the pleasure of seeing him in the Legislative Assembly of the Empire-(applause) →pursuing his same useful, disinterested work, and if that should come to pass, as many of us hope and trust it will, then we may depend upon it that when the affairs of the Colony come before the Hone of Commons, Mr. Whitehead wil not be numindful of those who witnessed and rejoiced in his prosperity. Gentlemen. I ask you to drink with me the health of the Honourable Thomas Henderson Whitehead.
The toast was pledged with all the honours. Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD, who was heartily received on rising to reply, said—Mr. Chairman and gentlemen,—I am sure you will all heartily agree with me in the reason and cause that prevent our esteemed friend Mr. Ho Tang from being present with us to-night. I saw him two days ago on his sick-bed, and be then assured me that if the doctors would allow him he would · be with us to-night. I especially deplore his absence because be is one of my oldest friends in Hongkong and one whom I highly esteem. (Applause) I trust sincerely that he will soon be restored to his usual good health, inasmuch as he may safely be regarded as one of he pillars of progress and one of the pillars of Hongkong. (Applause.) Before attempting to reply to the e.oquent speech to which we have just listened, I desire cordially to express my hearty gratitude to Your Excellency for honouring us with your presence this even- ing. (Applause.) It is exceedingly good of you, sir, to have come down from the cool air of the Peak to the great heat on the lower level of the City, especially as recently Your Excellency was somewhat indisposed. I very sincerely ap- preciate the honour you have conferred upon me. (Applause.) Will you believe me, gentle- men, that the ordeal through which I have passed during the last few days, while it has its pleasant features, is one of the saddest in the whole of my life's experience. It is flatter- ing to man's self esteem, to know that he has earned the respect and good-will of his fellow-
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Chinese community after an experience of four | Branch in the autumn of 1895 he was sent on a | and a half years of his value, how greatly mission to North China and Peking, which enhanced must be our appreciation of his life lasted several months. In September, 1898, Mr. and work to-day when he is concluding 12 Whitehead proceeded to Eastern Siberis on s years' service. (Applause.) Again in 1900 month's vacation but on arrival at Vladivostock when Mr Whitehead was leaving the Colony he was asked by the Directors to return to on short furlough to England-Scotland I the agencies of the Bank in Japan. He returned should say he was presented by the Chinese to Hongkong in February, 1899, and after community with a testimonial, which served inspecting the Bank's branches in North China to place on record ones more "our high in the Spring of 1900 went home overland through appreciation and grateful acknowledgment of Siberia and by the great Trans-Siberian Railway, the valuable services which he had rendered The Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce Hongkong and the Chines since 1890, both in appointed him ous of its delegates to the Fourth the Legislative Council and out of the Council." | Congress of the Chambers of Commerce of the Even the presentation of testimonials must Empire held in London in June, 1900, but as he come to
an end, when our vocabulary is was delayed by the shallowness of the water in exhausted and the virtues of the recipient have the Amoor and Shilka rivers he did not arrive become too much for us- -(laughter)—but few of in London until July. While in England he us who attended that presentation in 1900, delivered two important lectures under the thought we should have the honour so soon again auspices of the Incorporated Liverpool Cham- of publicly entertaining Mr. Whitehead, and, ber of Commerce and the Royal Institute I hesitate to mention it, of possibly bidding in London. Simultaneously he returned to his him farewell for good.^ We cannot help think-first lofe on 31st January, 1901, and was ing as business men that if he goes to London admitted a member of the most Honourable to manage the head of his magnificent banking Society of the Middle Temple. He attended institution, that his worth will cause his per. the Hilary term and ate the usual number of manent retention; and whilst we one and all dinners, He left London in February, 1901, sincerely hope that it will be so, yet none will and visited New York, Washington, Mexico, regret his absence more than the Chinese com. the Pacific Coast, and the Philippine Islands, in munity. (Applause.) No man has ever merited connection with the Bank's business before success in the battle of life more than our resuming charge of his duties in Hongkong guest, and assuming, though I confess with in July, 1901. He has served on many the greatest reluctance, that he will leave us to Commissions and Committees, including remain in London, I think it not out of place the enquiry into the working of the to mention a few facts Mr. Whitehead's Tung Wa Hospital, the Po Leung Kuk Society, career, for which I am indebted to one of his Insanitary Properties Commission, &c., &c. many friends, and which shou'd serve every During his career in Hongkong Mr. Whit-head young man in this Colouy as an example bas appeared before the public in two capacities, of what pluck, care, industry and perseverance namely, as the representative of the Chamber may ensure to those who hope for success, I of Commerce on the Legislative Council, and trust he will excuse me if I relate a career as the Manager of one of the leading banking which to many will be of much in erest. institutions here. I have already given a brief Mr. Whitehead served an apprenticeship of resume of his work on the Council, and it would four years in the office of a firm of solici- be impossible on this occasion to allude to it in tors in Scotland, from 1867 to 1871, and this but general terms. Mr. Whitehead modestly was followed by 18 months' experience in thinks that there are as good fish in the sea a mercantile office in Liverpool, from 1871 to
as ever came out of it, and we all hope and 1873. He joined the London office of the trust that it may be found to be so, but I im Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China afraid without disparaging the efforts of others, in 1873 on probation for service abroad, and that it will be some time before we shall be able was appointed an Assistant Accountant in the to secure on the Legislative Council a repre- Bombay office in September, 1874. He was
sentative of such sturdy independence and transferred to the Calcutta agency in 1875, and sterling worth as himself, and one having from there in that autumn to the Bank's the interests of every section of the community Shanghai Branch. He was promoted Account. so much at heart. (Applause.) Yes, gentlemen, ant and transferred to the Bombay agency in the community will miss him and the Govern- 1877, and remained there through the crisis ment will miss him, for I take it that they pro. which followed the collapse of the City of Gla- fited not B little from his treuchant, gow Bank until the Spring of 1880, when he sarching and able criticism. (Applause.) was appointed Agent at Hankow. He was I am s.re that we were all delighted to transferred thither to Japan in August, 1880, see that in spite of his independence the to open a new agency of the Bank at Yokó- Government had at last decided to honour bama. In the Spring of 1881 he was appointed him by appointing him to be a member of the temporarily to the Shanghai Branch, and from Executive Council. It was A well-deserved there to Hankow Branch for the tea-season. In tribute of the confidence of the Government in that autumn be was transferred to the his integrity, and we can only regret that he Straits and had charge of the Singapore has not been allowed to further justify that Branch until March, 1882. After that he selection.. (Applause.) As a banker, Mr. was for a short period at Saigon, then Whitehead has secured the highest esteem and in charge of the Hongkong Branch during admiration of the Chinese mercantile com- April-May, and of the Foochow agency until munity, an appreciation second only to that of August, 1882, when he went home on furlough the celebrated head of the other leading via America, and reported. on business to his banking institution, whom we had the honour London Office between that country and the and privilege to entertain only recently Far East. He returned from Europe in Oc- on his departure. What was said of tober, 1883, and has continued in charge of the Sir Thomas Jackson as а banker may Hongkong branch since that year until the be also said of Mr. Whitehead. The local present time. He was elected by the Hongkong branch of his bank has likewise grown with the General Chamber of Commerce to the Legisla- development of the Colony, the prosperity of tive Council in 1890, and would have completed which and of us all is bound up in the solidarity his second term of office in the Council in Sep- of those two institutions. In the testimonial tember this year. He was mainly responsible given to. Mr. Whitehead by the Chinese in getting up the Petition from the Ratepayers community in 1900, a clause ran: “You | in Hongkong to the House of Commons asking may safely assure your Directors that The for reform and a system of representative Chartered Bank of Indis, Australia & China Government. He was entrusted with the
stands as high as any Bank in the East in the Petition, while on furlough to Europe estimation and opinion of the Chinese in Hong- in 1894-95, and addressed the Colonial Party kong, and that it owes its position and on the subject in one of the Com prestige here to your high character and able mittee-rooms of the House of Commons in management." I need hardly say that we all March, 1895. He had several interviews with re-echo this statement to-day. (Applause.) Lord Ripon, then Secretary for the Colonies, In conclusion, gentlemen, I ask you to join and advocated Hongkong's cause in letters to with me in wishing long life and pro- the London Times. In February, 1895, he read sperity to the Honourable Thomas Hen- an important paper on "The critical position of derson Whitehead. If he can be spared trade with silver-using countries" under the from his London office we hope and trust auspices of the Royal Colonial Institute, and to see him in our midst again representing us before resuming, charge of the Hongkong and working for us with even renewed
men.
instincts
Most heartily I thank the Chinese com. mercial community of Hongkong for the high honour they have done me in holding this magnificent banquet in my honour, and you, Mr. Leung Sin Kong, for the over-generous manner in which yu have referred to my career in the East. I assure you, gentlemen, these outward manifestations of your good-will and esteem awaken a deep sense of sadness when I reflect that the end may probably have come to our intimate personal intercourse. Our Bank's dealings and transactions with the commercial Chinese have been such that I have been led to form a very high estimste of their characteristics. No one can hold them in higher esteem than I do, and this is no empty phrase or flattery. (Applause.) I am simply re-echoing what has been said by all writers on China whose opinion is worth valuing, and I speak that which I know. The Chinam in of commerce is essentially a man of enterprise, resource, and integrity; he is instinct with the qualities which lead to personal and national greatness; and I firmly believe that once these commercial
pervade the politica of Peking a new for.e will enter the international arens, and developments hitherto undreamt of will restore China to her ancient position of prestige and prosperity. (Applauss.) Gentlemen, in the pressure of business and the rush of work, consequent upon my unexpected and sudden recall to London in consequence of the death of the Bank's senior manager there, time has not permitted my preparing a suitable and adequate reply to our Chairman's eloquent speech. Therefore I will try to compress my remarks into the briefest possible space in my endeavour to acknowledge your present kindness. I will not attempt to follow Mr. Leung Shiu Kong's references to the details of my early career, but I would say that whatever little success I may have achieved in life is due to the careful training. I received from those it was my privilege to serve in youth. Of my twenty-eight years experience east of Sues I will ever retain the most pleasant recollec- tions and cherish the happiest memories, (AP- plause.) Since I first came to Chins in 1875, many changes havê bọon witnessed which are only the forerunners of still more stupendous changes. Japan has risen rapidly to a position of first-
!
Page 10Page 11
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.