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is therefore declared a clean port, and that clean bills of health are now issued
In the course of discussion it was stated that in spite of the fact that Indo-China, Straits Settlements and the Netherland Indies no longer quarantine arrivals from Hongkong, Shanghai still continued to do so, and the hope was expressed that news would shortly be received from Shanghai to the effect that the medical inspection of vessels arriving from this port had ceased.
MERCHANT SHIPPING AMENDMENT
ORDINANCE.
With reference to the letter of the Chamber to the Government, dated 19th November, 1901, enclosing a petition from the representatives of the shipping companies in the Colony protest- ing that owners of steamers should not be made responsible for expenses incurred through removal and treatment ashore of passengers who may be taken ill on board, a letter was read dated 29th alt. from the Colonial Secretary stating that the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies had received the memorial from the shipping firms and agencies in question but that he saw no reason for complying with the request of the signatories. After some discussion, it was decided to reply to the Government that the committee regretted the decision arrived at by the Secretary of State for the Colonies and that representations would be made to the leading Chambers of Commerce in Great Britain and their assistance asked to bring the outrageous provisions of the Ordinance before the Home Government with a view to their repeal.
ADDITIONAL FACILITIES FOR TRAFFIC ON
THE WEST RIVER.
Read letter from the Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steamboat Co., Ld., Indo-China S.N. Co., Ld., and China Navigation Co., Ld., dated 19th ult., stating that the Cantonese authorities were willing and anxious that the s.s. Sainan and Nanning should call regularly at all towns and villages in the Delta and on the West River between Canton and Wuchow to land and receive passengers who might then travel in safety, which was not now the case on account of the prevalence of piracy, and asking the Chamber to move the Chinese Government, through H.M. Minister at Peking, to grant the necessary permission.
A telegram was despatched to Sir Ernest Satow on the 24th instant to meet the above request.
The CHAIRMAN said that they could only hope the concessions asked for would be granted, but so far, he understood, nothing definite had been arrived at, although negotiations were still in progress at Canton.
THE CHAMBER'S REFRESENTATIVE ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
In consequence of the receipt of a letter from H. E. the Governor informing the Chamber that Mr. Whitehoad's term of office, tem- porarily filled by Mr. R. Shewan, expired on 24th ult., and asking the Chamber to nominate a candidate to fill the vacancy a special general meeting of the members was summoned for 3rd instant at which M-. Shewau was re-elected nem
con.
The CHAIRMAN said that Mr. Shewan was unfortunately unable to be present at the meeting to-day, but they nevertheless tendered him their congratulations on his re-nomination.
PROPOSED LICENSING OF PILOTS,
Read letter to the Colonial Secretary dated 29th ultimo, covering the further report of the Sub-Committee.
The SECRETARY reported that so far no reply had been received. NEW PUBLIC HEALTH AND BUILDINGS BILL. It was agreed to postpone the discussion of the new Bill until it was known in what shape the Government intended to bring the measure forward again.
!
NEW BRITISH COMMERCIAL TREATY-THE EFFECTIVE 5 PER CENT, SPECIFIC TARIFF. It was also decided to await receipt of the official copies of the above before discussing their conditions.
This concluded the proceedings.
The celebrated sacred red bridge at Nikko, Japan, which, with all the other bridges over the river there, was carried awaylin the typhoon ou the 28th ult., was built in 1638 and last repaired in 1892, It was 84 feet long and 18 feet wide.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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THE HONGKONG REGIMENT. FAREWELL INSPECTION BY THE GOVERNOR. On Friday afternoon, 10th inst., amid the pleasantest of surroundingsand favoured by what was certainly King's weather, His Excellenoy the Governor, Sir Henry Blake, K.C.M.G, Regiment. made his farewell inspection of the Hongkong
The Football ground where this interesting and indeed historical parade took plac was crowded with spectators, which included Lady Blake and Miss Blake, Admiral Grenfell, and a large concourse of Naval and Military officers together with most of the principal residents in in the Colony.
The Regiment, which was under the com- man of Major Bergor, with Captain P. G. Anderson, Captain G. D. Campbell, Lieut. and Adjutant H. S. Moberly, Lieut. E. C. Wallace, and Lieut. W. H. Bingham, was drawn up in line of 8 companies of a total strength of 679 officers and men practically from one side of the ground to the other, and presented a spectacle which those who saw it will not soon forget,
H.E. attended by Col. Brown, R.E., com- manding the Troops, Major Denny, D.A.A.G., and Capt. Arbuthnot, M.V.O., Scots Guards, A.D.C. arrived about 4.30 p.m., and was received by a general salute. After having ridden round the line H.E. returned to the saluting base a.d the ceremony bf trooping the colour was commenced and carried out from start to finish in faultless style.
The enormous physique and extraordinary steadiness and smartness of the men, their perfect marching both in slow and quick time, the final advance in review order, the rapidity with which the three sides of a square were formed at the conclusion of the ceremony, showed that the training, which all ranks had received was of no ordinary kind, and moreover served only to increase among onlookers the general feeling of sincere re- gret that so magnificent a Regiment should be disbanded.
At the conclusion of the parade,
H18 EXCELLENCY said-Major Berger, off- cers, non-commissioned officers and men of the Hongkong Regiment, I regret that the time has come when I have inspected you for the last time and when I have to say good-bye to this magnifi. ceut Regiment so soon to be disbanded. During the 10 years of its existence the Hongkong Regiment has attained a high standard of efficiency that reflects the greatest credit upon the officers of the Indian Staff Corps who have been responsible forį its training and discipline. In the operation that became necessary ou account of the attack by the Chinese at the taking over of the New Territory the conduct of the Regiment left nothing to be desired, and in the expedition to Tientsin and Peking last year the Regiment particularly distinguished itself. In that expedition the Regiment lost in action 11 killed aid 31 wounded, while 8 men died of disease and 2 by acci- dents. A and B Companies under Captain Rowcroft and Lieut. Wallace were present during the seige of Tientsin and the capture of the native city, the portion of the field of operations where far the most serious fighting of the expedition took place. Why no clasp was given for those engagements is an inscrutable mystery to all those outside the War Office and Admiralty who know the facts connected with the expedition, but the fighting in Tientsin proved the quality of the Hongkong Regiment. Captain Rowcroft was mentioned in despatches and receiv.d the Distinguished | Service Order, while my AD.C. Subadar Major Sirdar Khad was similarly mentioned and received the honour of the Companionship of the Order of the ludian Empire for special galantry when, in command of a picquet at the railway terminus and entirely unsupported, he repulsed a determined night attack of the Chinese forces and cleared the railway station at the point of the bayonet. You, Major Berger, and Subadar Jan Muhammed were mentioned in despatches for energetic and successful conduct in the suppression of brigaudags while em ployed on the line of communications, and Šubadar Jan Muhammed has also been decorated with the Order of British India. I find also that Frivate Sher Khan was awarded the Royal Humane Societies Medal for a plucky attempt to save the life of a comrade in the
[October 20, 1902 Peiho river. This record in a short period of active service shows the fine quality of the Regiment and is the result of that drill and discipline to which testimony has been borne- by Major-General Sir William Gascoingne under whose command you have served in this garrison for the last four years; by General Sir Alfred Gaselee who commanded the China expedition and by the Commandant of the School of Musketry at Hythe, who reported as follows with reference to the Coronation detachment of the Hongkong Regiment," that their work was so admirable in all respects that it provided an object lesson for some of our instructors of the extraordinary skill that proper recruit training can develop.' No higher praise could be given of your work as soldiers, and it must gratifying to Major-General Sir Edmond Barrow who raised
Retallich, and to you, Major Berger who now the Regiment, Colonel Faithfull, to Colonel
com nands it, that this Regiment that has been moulded under your hands, than which no re. giment has ever presented a more splended sp- parance on parade has done such oredit to your sustained efforts during your several commands. The exigencies of the service require that you shall cease to exist as a unit on the 30th November, but I know that soldiers like you will not abandon the profession of arms but will continue to serve your King and Emperor in other Regiments with the same fidelity that you have shown in the Hongkong Regiment You will leave your Colours in the Cathedral here, where in years to come they will remind the people of Hongkong that the Colony once possessed a territorial Itegiment second to nons in His Majesty's Indian army. I am glad to have the opportunity of speaking thus to you, and in bidding you farewell I wish you all, officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, every success in the future. (Applause.)
Major BERGER said—Your Excellency,-The Regiment which after a short existence of 10 years has paraded for the last time before you to-day, and concerning which you have made so very flattering a speech, is interesting not only to the Colony by reason of its name but also to all those who take an interest in principles which affect the well-being of the Army. Our first Commandant, Major, now Major- General Sir Edmund Barrow, K.C.B., was a soldier of great experience, advanced ideas, and with great influence at Headquarters, and he, when raising this Regiment for service under the War Office, received permission to introduce a system which was an entire depar- ture from that of the Indian Army. Without going into details of the system it will interest you to
know that owing to its success in the Hongkong Regiment the Government of India in 1900 directed its adoption by the Infantry Regiments of the Indian Army. Tue uniform of the Regiment is also unique and that too will be worn in future by Indian Regiments. Before the arrival in this Colony of the Regiments of the Indian Army proper we posed but as a sample of the 150,000 troops which India has always ready for Imperial service, and it is very gratifying to us to be told that our efforts have been more creditable than otherwise. It has been said that good soldiers should remain equally unmoved by praise or by blame, but it would be impossible for any body of men to listen to what Your Excellency has been pleased to say-impossible for them to read the excellent reports which Generals Sir Alfred Gaselee and Sir William Gascoigne and other officers in high position have written without feeling very proud indeed. The result which might so easily have been different is due to a good system and also to the very liberal treatment we have received from the War Office-treatment which as regards the men under their command officers of the Indian Staff Corps have never had the good fortune to receive before. We naturally deplore the disbandment of the Regiment, but we recognise its necessity aud can now only try to get together a regiment of the same kind again. On behalf of the Officers, N.C.O.'s and men, past and present, of the Hong- kong Regiment I thank your Excellency for the honour you have done the Regiment by holding this farewell parade, and I wish here also to express to the residents of the Colony present our great appreciation of their attendance this afternoon. We of the Hongkong Regiment have spent very happy
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