We are requested to intimate that the meeting which was to, have been held in the City Hall this afternoon in regard to the advisability of having ay Exhibition in Hongkong has been postponed.
No reason for the postponement is ofticially stated, but it has latterly become evident that the scheme was not lisely to meet with sufficient support tu carry it through, At first the idea was received with favour, amounting in sume quarters alurist to enthusiasm, but further reflection seems to have led to the conclusion that an Exhibition in Hovgkong would not be a success.
A test of the support the movement was likely to receive was, we hear, afforded xt the meeting of the Court of Directors of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank on Friday, when the question whether that institution should subscribe to the guarantee fund was considered. The decision was in the negative, and it is believed most if not all of the Directors would take the sume course individually as representing their respective firms that they have taken culpectively on behalf of the Bunk.
Te may be interesting thought of the project outside the Colony. The Cowrier @Haiphong says that those who remember the Exiubicion at Hanoi in 1887 will not believe interest or the success of such an enterprise. Our contemporary yoes on to consider the relative prospects if the Exhibition were held at Shanghai oe xt Hongkong. Inter, it says, notwithstanding ita vi to Canton, is none the less *isulated an island," nud however prosperous this magnificent English colony may be it is of ensy to see what would come of an Exhibi tion there. Lhe number of visitors would necessarily be limited, and it is doubtful whether the Canton steamers would bring down sufficient to cover the expenses, while "8 to attracting visitors from greater distance, it t to be thought of. A Chinaman will not put himself out of the way much to gu and ace samples of European" goods, and the Exhibition would be in effect a bazaar of in Shang! other laud pleasttee par excellence; it is there that the young. Chi aus his wild outs and Squanders his father's tele. People yo Shanglai for the reasons that in Europe they go to Paris, And it is not necessary remain under any illusion, Of the milners who attended the Ex-ris atas the Eiffel Tower, and never have ed the ocean if the machinery annexe had not been in the modern Babylon, "Now, as the modern Babylon, even for a Chinaman, Hongkong leaves much to be desired." " Qur contemporary's compliment ought to be appreciated.—Daily Press, 19th June.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.