64
THE KING'S PARK.
OPENING DAY FIXED.
At 11 a.m. on the 21st inst. a dejuta- tion waited upon Major-General Sir W. J. Gascoigne, K.C.M.G., and presented a petition from the community asking His Excellency to fix a date for the cutting of the first sod of the King's Fark at Kowloon The Hon. C. S. harp headed the deputation, which consisted of the Hons. C. W. Dickson, G. W. F. Playfair, and Wei A Yuk, and Messrs. E. A. 1. ewett, D. E. Brown, W. Poate, D. M. Moses, G. Stewart, H. N. Mody, J. R. M. Smith, and A. H. Shelton. The Hon. F. H. May, CM.G.. Colonial Secretary, was also present.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Addressing His Excellency, who presidel, the Hon. C. S. HARP said-Your Excellency, circumstances still fresh in the minds of us all having unhappily necessitated the postponement of the Coronation of Their Majesties, The King and Queen, some of the various public cert monies arranged to form the local celebration of that auspicious event had to be put off in sympathy with the public feeling! of concern and regret for the alarming cause of this postponement. As the cause for our concern and anxiety has now been most happily removed through the welcome intelligence of the providential recovery of His Majesty, it has been felt that the celebration of some of the items arranged for might now Le fi!- tingly proceeded with, and a very general dane Las been expressed ou the part of the community that the initial ceremony coLnected with the public dedication of the King's Park should be performed at as early a dife as possible. It has further been¦ singly felt that it would be peculiarly grati- fying to tLe public that that ceremony should le performed by Your Excellency, who all along
Lave i ken tuch un ezinext and woim interest
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[Alcut 250 signatures 110 appended to the requisition.]
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(July 28, 1902,
We would beg to point out that in making perfectly certain that your interests, he having this request we are not asking Your Excel'ency the same liberal views that I share with him to go behind what had already been decided I am perfectly certain the interests of the o m upon before the sad news of His Majesty's munity, both civil and military, will never suffer. sickness reached us. We are aware that a good (Applause.) I mention all this, gentlemen, be- many details still remain to be retiled and cause it all comes back to the park, to a certain other arrangements made before any progress extent. Considerable difficulties, will have to can be made with the laying out of the Pork. be overcome I think that practically they are Trusting that Your Excellency may be good overcome-but in this report you have read cut enough to give a favourable consideration to to me and I am glad to вее it-you our request,We have the honour to remain. recognise that the opening of the park do. s not Sir Your Excellency's humble and obedient mean that all at once you will find the park servants.
ready u ade. Thero ale still considerable arrangements to be made, there are ranges to bu found els whe.e, and there are In reply, His FXCELLENCY said Mr. karp
great number of things on account and gentlemen. Beliere me you have paid me of which I confess, had I foreseen the the very highest compliment that could possibly difficulties beforehand, I think I should have be paid to me, and I appreciate it more than hesitated about bringing about the opening really I can find words to tell you. recognise of this park. But I feel that all these matters. fully the kind intention you had in approach- are simply matters of arrangement, and, as I ing me in this matter. You felt, and felt most have said previously, with Mr. May to act with truly, that I had an immense interact in this me on your behalf, and with the views I hold park, but believe me, that interest would have in my double capacity-with the experience been equally the same even had you not paid me I bave learned in my double capacity-a this extraordinarily high compliment, which, I bare GU doubt whatever that these as I say, I can never sufficiently express Dy things will be got over in time. Now, gratitude for. I Lave a very grét crest in gentlemen, I again repeat, you have paid this park, gentlemen, as you are aware. A me the very highest compliment you could, and lorgish time agc-over two years 10-the one which I shall never forget. I recognise scheme was proposed to me in my capacity as that you want memost kindly to be associated General Officer Commanding. At that time with his park, and I accept your offer with the I had different views; I thought I saw a wayuta est gratitude. (Applause.) And now the of utilising this ground በፍ
accessoryenly thing for us to do is to settle a date, and for the troops. At that time, I do noty u may have my services for any day you mid saying. I bed net walised as I do would like to have. What I had proposed now the chimions progress and prosperity to do
was this. We have not actually that there is. I believe, in front of us both here receiv.dany official intimation yet that the 9th of iu Hongkong and over in Kowloor, and 1 August is to be Coronation day except by Reuter, locked njen the laid with an eye, a rather but I fancy that will be the care. We are re- covetous eye, for the military, possibly because ceived so far an official telegram about the 1 did Lot then itach so much importance | Colonial troops. asking whether they would te in promoting the clone, and to where jublic, as I do LoW to the whole community of allowed to stay longer, which would plainly spirited (forts and assistance the acquisition of Hongkong. Gentlemen. 1 may ay also show that there is an intention of holding some this valuable addition to the rmenities of the that the fact of ny Laving the good Coienation ceremony, and therefore I think we Cok ny is to very lagely, if not entirely, due, fortune to act in the doublé capacity of nay take it for granted that the 9th will be the This desire on the jait of the community has ficer Administering the Government as well date. If that were so, I had thought, my wife Lien exprested in a letter, to which a large num- as in my regular capacity of General Officer and I, that it would be very pleasant indeed if Ler of gitmes has been appended, and accor- Comp adding the Trco, s has len of enormous we could have a torchlight precession at Cingly we havefci med curselves into a deputation, benefit to me, and I hope, gentlemen, indirectly Government House, with massed bands play- purely Lnofficial, and Jepresenting the to the whole community of Hongkong. Fring, such as we had looked forward to at the fignatories ofthe letter and ublic, to wait this reason I am bourd to say that my acting original date of the Coronation; and is that ujen you for the purpose of presenting this to in this double capaci y las broadened, my would take place on the Saturday evening Your maceller cy. We have to thank Your Ex-riews most materially, and has made me see I would almost prefer, subject to your
more liberal spirit approval, that ellency for having to kindly consented to things in a very much
you did rot take that receive ns, and we sincerely trust that it may be is regards the wlcle community than I was day for the opening of the park. I pcesible for you to see your way to gratify this disposed to do when I first came. I think we would prefer also that it should not take generally-expressed desire 1Lat yon perform the soldiers and sailors, for I speak for both, are place on either of the next two Thursdays. Ceremony 1eferred to. With Your Excellency's sometimes too prone to think that our interestsThis first Thursday 1 have, to open a military permission I will now read the letter.
are paramount. You perhaps will not blame us cemetery in the Happy Valley, and next Thurs- To H.E. Major-General Sir WILLIAM J. for thinking so. Perhaps a'so you yourselves. day I am told there is a gymkhana being GAECOIGNE K.C.M.G, Cffcer Administer-representing the commercial interests of Hong-arranged for by some of the regiments in the ing the Government, Hongkong.
kong, may be di posed at tim s to think that place. Therefore, xcept those days I have Sir-Since the unfortunate circumstances your interests are equally paremount. Well, the mentioned, I am at your disposal any other day. have taken place which rectssitated the tempor- feet of the matter is, we Loth depend one upon you like to name for this ceremony, which I ary Fcstponement of the celebration which the fle other. Without the spread and prosperity shall perform with the greatest pleasure and residents in this Colony lad intended bolding in commerce, the army and navy would not which I shall consider a great honour. (Applause.) in boncur of the Coronation of Their Majesties exist; there is no question about that.
Again,
Hon. C. S. SHARP-I am sure it has given the King and Queen, news has been received in order to ensure the safeguarding of com- us great pleasure indeed to listen to your of the great improvement in His Majesty's meice the army and navy are necessary; there Excellency's words and also to receive your fore each is dependent upcu the offer, tut kind permission. I have been consulting a undcnttedly the army and navy come sec nd, for number of members of the deputation-I have without great commercial prosperity, I again seen most of them-and I would suggest Wed- repeat, the army and nary would cease to exist. nesday week, some time in the evening. All this I have learned very much si ce
I came His EXCE. LENCY-At what hour, do you iuto dual capacity of Officer Adminisering | think? the Government as well as Commanding the Hon. C. S. SHA! P-I think five or half-past Troops, and I have also seen in Hongkong euch | fire. a liberalpirit that I am perfectly confident there is no cne Lere, and indeed no one in the while community, who would not desire to see cur soldiers and sailors properly housed and cared for. Having seen that spirit, I can answer for Knowing as we do that Your Excellency has myself again that so long as I am here I shall been directly instrumental in securing for Hong- take care that nothing military shall be aflowed kong this valuable concession, we are also aware in any way to interfere with any expansion of that the wish has been very generally expressed commerce in any sort of way. (Applause.) I that Your Excellency should carry to a conclucccgnise the enormous interests of commerce, tion the good work with which you have teen and if there is any ground in any part of the so closely identified.
Colony which might be more valuable for com- mercial purposes than for military. I would, if I could in any way,
waite the military Of course, if it Was necessary for purposes of defence, you would be the first to encourage me to stick to it, but if I could in any way waive the military in- terests, believe me I should do so, and I say in the presence of the Colonial Secretary that so long as he and I are working together I am
health.
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We understand that by the direct wish of His Majesty certain of the proposed celebrations in Lezcur cf the Corcnation have been held in Great Britain and elsewhere,th spite of the f. ct that the Coronation has not yet taken place.
We would Leg to respectfully remind Your Excellency that one of the most important, if not the most important, items of our proposed programme was the turning of the first sod of the King's Park," a work which, when com- pleted, would pro e of great and lasting benefit to the Colony at large.
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We therefore venture to express the hope that Your Excellency may be willing to arrai ge at an early date for the turning of the first sodinterests. of the Park, thus setting your seal upon & public work, which, while not only benefitting the residents of Hongkong will also be a stand- ing mument to the kindly interest which Your Excell ncy Las always displayed in promoting the welfare of the Colony.
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Ilen G. W. F. PLAYFAIR- Half-past five, HIS EXCELLENCY-Then say we settle upon Wednesday, the 20th, at half-past five. Sup- 1osing, Lowever, we had rain that day, which I trust will not be the case, what should we do? Hou. G. W. F. PLAYFAIL-Have the following Saturday, then.
HIS EXCELLENCY-We might almost pat that in the notice that in case the ceremony had to be postponed it would take pace at the same hour on the following Saturday.
This baving been agreed to, HIS EXCELLENCY brought the proceedings to a close by saying- Thack you with my whole heart for having Believe me, I come forward in this way. shall never forget it,
A number of Americans who have been in the Philippines for some time are said to be makit g arrangements to go to the Isthmian canal as soon as work begins.
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