Hongkong, Dec. 8.
It appears probable now that our War Memorial, in the shape of a "simple dignified monument'? to be erected on the finest site in the Colony, will take second place to the scheme for building a huge club for the use of soldiers, sailors and civilians. All along there has been a strong under-current of opposition to the spending of any great amount of money upon monument, and it was found, when architects were invited to submit designs, that the Memorial Committee had to a certain extent cognized this by limiting expenditure to $125,000.
They recognized it still more fully, apparently, at an emergency meeting called upon the morning of the day on which the public meeting was held to consider the proposals for the club, and the Hon. Mr. John Johnstone sprang a surprise upon the latter gathering by announcing that the Committee had unanimously decided to regard the Y.M.C.A. or Union Clua scheme as part of the War Memorial and to support it whole-heartedly whilst limiting their plans to the erection, in a suitable position, of a less costly remembrance of those who will never return. This means, presumably, that a much smaller sum than even the $125,000 will be spent on an obelisk and it is uncertain now whether "the finest site," previously allocated to the Committee, can be retailled.
As, however, it was hinted that the Government was considering the re-arrangement of Statue Square and his Excellency himself stated quite frankly that he would do all in his power to prevent building on this much discussed plot of ground, the War Memorial, small as it may be, is most likely to secure the coveted position.
History or THe MoveMenr.
It is almost two years since the War Memorial was first mooted. Then the public were asked for suggestions and dozens were forthcoming, including a new City Hall, Victory Piers, a bridge over the harbour, clubs, hospitals, _recreations grounds and a variety of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.