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The toast was cordially pledged."
to
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. mtelligent and Chinese assembled here to-night, I thank all hed, China may our valued guests for honouring us with their history of great presence on this occasion Gentlemen, with behind her and a people at once these few remarks I ask you to join with me in dustrion" and the most peaceable drinking the health of "The Other Guests," and righteously governed In the coupled with the name of His Excellency Sir times aheed, you in Hongkong will, William Gascoigne. ezto the fullest extent: Here, under dapate to
angis of the British flag, as you, sir, have His EXCELLENCYSIR WILLIAM GASCOIGNE, rked, there are many races and nation- in acknowledging the toast, said Mr. Chairman litles. On these well favoured- shores all are and gentlemen.-It was only a very few days welcome to trade with a freedom not excelled ago that I had the honour of standing in this elsewhere. If I may be permitted to throw ont place to return thanks for the same toast as a suggestion to our Chinese friends it is this, to-aight, namely, the guests assembled to do that in the changes under contemplation in bonour to a citizen of Hongkong who was Hongkong the Chinese community will loyally leaving. Who could have told that night render the Government every assistance to clear that I should so soon have again the honour the Colony of the pestilence which has blighted of representing the guests at a banquet our commerce from year to year since 1894 and given to a man whom I looked uponas, to reconstruct this City of Victoria upon healthi- and indeed I hoped would be, a fixture, Mr. er and more sanitary lines than heretofore. Thomas Whitehead. Well, gentlemen, Í can Mr. Leung Shiu Kong, you have been good only repeat to-night what I said then, namely, enough to allude to my services in the Legisla that loth I and, I feel perfectly certain, every tive Council: To feel satisfied in the hall of one of those whom I have the honour to represent, one's inner conscience that he has endeavoured esteem it a great honour to take, and are to do his best-no man can do more-is to exceedingly grateful for the opportunity of me an adequate reward. But to be assured taking, a part on the occasion of paying man so highly respected that these services have been appreciated by honour my fellow residents is deeply gratifying. As and so generally popular as Mr. Whitehead. was said the other day, a healthy opposition (Applause.) I do not hesitate to say als› that is a necessary feature of representative gov- I cannot but think that these banquets, these ernment and it is the best aid to efficient mixed banquets, in which our kind hosts are government It is a source of satisfaction kind enough to ask us to join them as guests. to any man who has taken a part in our little are a new feature and must do an immense public life to know and to feel that his criti- amount of good. (Applause and hear, hear.) cisms and suggestions have had a beneficial It seems to me, if I may be allowed to say so, effect on the legislation and the affairs of that they reflect the highest honour on our kind this important Colony. For my official col- hosts; and what an honour it must be to a leagnes I entertain a warm personal regard, but man leaving Hongkong to feel that he has been when I deemed the occasion demanded it, I did honoured by some 16') of mixed nationalities not hesitate to pass criticism upon their public the East and the West mixing together to pay actions. Notwithstanding, it is gratifying him honour. (Applause.) Well, gentlemen, to me to know that in following this indepen- I can only say myself that I am exceedingly dent course I have not forfeited their friendship. disappointed that Mr. Whitehead is leaving (Applause) I wish to take this public oppor- Hongkong. I have individually looked forward tunity of acknowledging the help of my official very hopefully indeed to his advice and assist- and unofficial colleagues at times, there might | ance during the next few weeks. You all know have been more of it from the latter source. I—it is common knowledge that there are am under obligations to many lay members of great reforms that are on the eve of legislation. the community for their sympathetic co-opera-I may be fortunate or I may be unfortunate tion. I also sincerely thank the members of in having the honour of having to administer I take it that we may lay it the Chamber of Commerce for twice electing those reforms. *me as their representative in the Legislative down as an axiom, that no reform can be in- Council Public life may sometimes be a little stituted without it pinching som body, without arduous, but it is the duty of every oitizen to somebody being in the least bit hurt by it; and take an intelligent interest in local matters and I take it that the highest form of legislation is I hope the time is coming when you in Hongkong the carrying through of any necessary reform will have a more decisive voice in the manage to the least possible hurt of the individual. I ment of your municipal affairs. (Applause.) had looked forward in carrying out any Should it be decided that I am not to return reforms that may take place shortly to to live in Hongkong,' I will watch the pro- the experience and advice of Mr. White- gress of the Colony with the keenest personal head to help me through those difficulties, interest Twill count it a privilege and an so that the individual might be as little as little hurt as possible, honour to promote its interests in the Homeland pinched and should the opportunity come my way. (Applause.) and I therefore greatly regret myself his going. Allow me with a heavy heart to most sincerely (Applause and hear, hear.) As regards another thank you one and all for the exceedingly hearty point that has been mentioned in the very able manner in which you have received and pledged my health, and to warmly reciprocate the good wishes so ably expressed by the proposer of my health (Applause,
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hope most sincerely that Mr. Whitehead” will be followed in the future by some one equally independent, equally fearless, equs!! honourable, and equally painstaking, who will keep the Government up to the mark way that Mr. Whitehoud in the same haa done. Gentlemen, it has ben a vor great honour and a very great pleasure your asking us here to-night. I can only say that we appreciate it most heartily. We are one and all of us very glad indeed to pay our tribute of honour to a man whom I feel perfectly cartála the whole community of Hongkong thoroughly respects and whose absence the whole community of Hongkong will forever deplore. (Applause.)
This concluded the toast-list.
The band of the R. W. F., un der the leader- ship of Bandmaster Moir, played the following selection of music at intervals:-
Lancers
Overture Selection
"Roast Beef of Old England
"
"
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***
#
'Duke of Fife Maritana" Scotland's pride
Wood. Walldés. Godfrey
Liddle.
...Sid. Jones.
"Whisper and I shall hear " Clothilde.
Valse Song Selection Selection
Gay Gordous" "Runaway Girl"
Extra:
"Scotch Medley ".
Toasts.
}
Van Maanen
"God Save the King" "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." Auld Lang Syne
! "S'n fa" Chinese Air-" The World's Delight
"God Save the King."
PRESENTATION FROM BANK-CLERICAL STÅFF. On the occasion of his departure from the Colony, the clerical staff of the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and Chins presented to the Hon. T. H. Whitehead, the manager here of the Chartered Bank, an address, beautifully engraved on parchment to the following effect: TO THE HONOURABLE THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD, M.L.C., MANAGER, chartERED BANK OF INDIA, AUSTRALIA AND CHINA, HONGKONG.
Hongkong, 29th May, 1902. SIB,-On the occasion of your departure from feel- Hongkong, we who have served under you for so many years wish to express you our ing of deep gratitude for all the kindness you baye shown us. Amidst all the cares and worries of a very busy life you have always found time to look into our little grievances and remedy them, and now we thank you for the interest you have taken in our welfare. Al- though we know that you are but going to the proper sphere fit for your abilities and vast ex- perience to as ume chief controlat Head Office- that you will always be solicitons for the welfare of this Branch, and we may therefore still ex- pect to feel the good influence of your rule, yet we deplore the loss to us of a chief so tactful courteous, just and impartial. Every com- munity of Hongkong will alike feel the loss, for it is entirely owing to your almost unaided exertions that so many beneficial changes havə been wrought upon this Colony; but none can better appreciate your work than we who have had the opportunity of seeing what labours it entailed, how unsparingly you have devoted to it all your time and how little rest you give yourself when you think there is yet something to be done for the public good. We know that a life already distinguished by so many noble works will ever continue to be most usefully spent and we feel sure that access will always crown your endeavours, and we, who are proud to have had you as our chief, will follow your further achievements with infinite pleasure. With our wishes for a very pleasant voyage, a bright and prosperous future full of happiness, we would beg of you to accept the accompanying souvenir as a token of the sincere esteem and regard from your olerical staff.
speech of the proposer to-night, I would say this-and I can say it perhaps better than any- body, because though I have the high honour of administering the Government I am only Mr. WONG KAM FUE, in proposing the toast here for the time being;-you in Hongkong of Our Guests," said Mr. Chairman, your have treated me with extraordinary kindness Excellency and gentlemen,The Colony has and courtesy. If I have left anything undone lately- bade "farewell to so many prominent it has always been, "Oh, he is only residents, 80 › many notable landmarks and administering the Government"; and any familiar faces that in proposing this health one little things I have b en able, however small, is inclined to wonder where are the men to fill to do, you have always received with the utmost I can speak perhaps the vacant places to guide and lead affairs-to kiudness. Therefore complete the work that they began. The more easily than could I if I were really and inevitable ohange that marks the affairs of men truly your Governor; and I can say, therefore, has taken from amongst us some whose minds that Mr. Whitehead, in his habit of asking and characters it will not be easy to match from questions and, as it was called, criticising the out this small
anity —men whose thonghts Government, has shown himself the truest friend haracterised by energy and of that Government that any man could be. welfare. (Applause.) Applause.) · There are different ways of us hope that those who asking questions: there is what the Scots Mr. White- may so use their call heckling; that is one way.
Commercial world head's way has been always to ask ques- that when tions that aro pertinent and good in them- men selves, and the mere faciI can speak to this him from my experience-the mere fact of the His possibility of his asking questions has often had
The effect, of giving the Government ; a "spur | Europeans, Chinese, etc., assembled which could not be otherwise than a benefit to him ~ God-speed. *^ themselyss and the community. (Applause.) from the Colony my I can only reciprocate the feeling that has been | a distinct loss, and it of the expres.ed here to-night-I can only say I to return at no far distant date
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Here follow twenty signatures.]
The Hon. T. H. Whitehead left for home, on At Wednesday by the Empress of China. the Chartered Bank the staff gave him a hearty send-off with the customary volleys of crad
at number of fr and" at the pier
White on 011
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