Third Historical Plaque Unveiled Marking Rizal's Links to Hong Kong
December 2004
 A third Philippine historical
marker associated with Dr. Jose Rizal was unveiled in Hong Kong on 30
December 2004, the 108th death anniversary of the national
hero.
The Rizal marker is located at
the intersection of Rednaxela Terrace and Shelley St. in central Hong
Kong, the site of the former residence of Rizal, who lived here with his
family from December 1891 to June 1892.
The marker was unveiled by Mr.
Ambeth Ocampo, Chairman of the National Historical Institute; Mr. Peter
Kwok, Principal Assistant Secretary of Hong Kong’s Home Affairs Bureau;
and Consul General Corazon Belmonte-Jover.
The ceremony was attended by
Rep. Emmanuel Carlos, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Order of Knights of
Rizal; Mr. Manuel Chua, Chairman of Tulay Foundation; Ms. Corazon Alvina,
Director of the National Museum; Hong Kong government officials and
Consulate officers and staff.
“Rednaxela
Terrace is no more but (this) site marked with a commemorative plaque will
remind the Chinese that sometime in the past, (Filipino) heroes lived in
exile in their land,” Ocampo, the guest speaker at the unveiling ceremony,
said.
“It was here that Paciano Rizal
translated "Noli Me Tangere." The manuscript was corrected by Rizal
himself and could be the definitive translation but was unfortunately
lost. It was here that Rizal began a third novel after "El Filibusterismo."
He completed only a few chapters, but it is significant because he tried,
but failed, to write in the language of his country – Tagalog -- instead
of Spanish.”
Consul General Jover said the Installation in Hong Kong of a third historical
marker is a fitting tribute to the memory of a great Philippine national
hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, as well as a testimony to the unique part that Hong
Kong played in Philippine history.
The first Philippine historical
marker was put up in 1997 at the site of Rizal’s clinic on Century Square
at D. Aguilar St. in central Hong Kong and the second was erected in 1998
at the place where the first Philippine flag was sewn by hand by Doña
Marcela de Agoncillo on Morrison Hill Rd.
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