Obituary: Mr José Luíz de Selavisa Alves
Counted amongst the earliest foreign settlers in the Colony, the late Mr Alves came over to Hongkong from Macao while yet a very young man and, because of his knowledge of the English language, soon found employment in the Government service. He joined the Harbour Office in a junior clerkship, and by dint of his zeal was successively promoted until he attained the position of Chief Clerk in the same department, retiring from service on pension when he attained the age limit.
The late Mr Alves’ only and older brother, João Miguel Alves, was also a Government employee. When the latter left the Civil Service he held the position of Chief Clerk in the Colonial Secretary’s Office.
In his younger days, the subject of this notice took an active part in outdoor sports in Hongkong, was a prominent member of the then leading sporting association in Hongkong – the Victoria Recreation Club – and took a lively interest in all the Club’s activities. Mr Alves was himself a good swimmer and was the teacher of his large family of boys in the natatory art. His sons have since maintained the old gentleman’s connection with the VRC, Mr AES Alves being its efficient honorary treasurer for a number of years, while Mr AA Alves, the popular member of the Hongkong Stock Exchange, remains up to this date a member of the Committee of the VRC.
In horse racing his two eldest sons owned quite creditable stables both here and in Shanghai. His eldest son “Jack” was an original member of the International Race Club at Shanghai he owned and rode his own ponies at Kiangwan and was a regular rider in the cross-country hunts. Mr AA Alves, until two years ago, raced at Happy Valley, and is today the official timekeeper of the Hongkong Jockey Club, while “Charlie” has functioned to general satisfaction as the efficient handicapper.
Every one of the Alves boys belonged to the Hongkong Volunteer Corps when they were younger in years. Of an intense patriotism, Mr Alves senior was not unmindful of the civic duties which, he conceived, his family were bound to perform for the home of their adoption, so that the name of his boys will be found enrolled in the membership of the local Volunteer Corps. When a Volunteer contingent was decided upon to represent Hongkong at the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, Mr AA Alves and Mr AES Alves had the honour of being selected as Hongkong representatives and proved very efficient units among the Hongkong boys.
During the Great War, when the Police Reserve Force was formed, Mr Alves supported the movement to the extent of having his two sons to enlist, both (Messrs AES Alves and CMS Alves) attaining the rank of Inspector of the Police Reserves Portuguese Company.
His youngest son, Mr EAS Alves, joined up in Hongkong and went to the front at the time of the World War. Thus will be found a unique record of public service to Hongkong which, if not measured in terms of dollars and cents, will be seen to represent, in the aggregate, much worth to the Colony and the residents in general.
It has just been said that the deceased possessed intense patriotism. That virtue was not of an academic character in Mr Alves. He believed in action rather than in words, for the practical manifestation of his patriotic sentiments among his compatriots with whom he lived. There can be little surprise, therefore, that he figured among the few founders of the Club Lusitano in Hongkong in 1866. In that institution he took a deep personal interest. For several times he was elected by popular vote to President, and it can truly be said that at no time did the Club Lusitano flourish so well as when the veteran President directed its affairs. When the Club celebrated its Diamond Jubilee recently Mr Alves was made an honorary member of the Club by public acclamation, in recognition of his signal services to the community. He enjoyed the further distinction of having his photograph hung upon the wall of the large social hall of the Club. It was on the occasion of the unveiling ceremony that, in returning thanks to the Club members, he feelingly spoke of the Club as a casa que eu amo tão bem (the institution that I love so well)!
In all affairs appertaining to the Portuguese community, Mr Alves took pleasure in being identified – in social, educational and recreative matters. He was a keen advocate of the teaching of the Portuguese language, since by its neglect he thought nothing would so greatly contribute to the denationalisation of the Portuguese in the Orient. The best monument to this leading and guiding spirit of the Portuguese community in Hongkong stands in the Club Lusitano, for the maintenance and support of which Mr Alves again and again addressed its members at public gathering to give it their loyal and unstinted support.
In recognition of his long period of unsparing service to the Portuguese in Hongkong, the Portuguese Government conferred upon the late Mr Alves, about ten years ago, the honour of a Commander of the Most Ancient Order of Christ. Of this distinction the recipient and his friends felt proud for the old gentleman.
In January next year Mr Alves would have attained his eightieth year of age, so that he had attained to a very ripe old age, maintaining to the very end his accustomed vitality which was the outward and visible signs of a remarkable physique and fine constitution.
As one who has been intimately associated with him for a number of years and one in a special position to realise the extent of his devotion and good will for the well-being of his own people, I can, in conclusion, truly remark that:
Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere,
Heaven did a recompense as largely send:
He gave to mis’ry (all he had) a tear,
He gained from Heav’n (’twas all he wish’d) a friend.
Obituário: Sr. José Luíz de Selavisa Alves
[conhecido como “Jico” pelos amigos]
Contado entre os primeiros colonos estrangeiros na Colônia, o falecido Sr. Alves chegou a Hong Kong vindo de Macau ainda muito jovem e, devido ao seu conhecimento da língua inglesa, logo encontrou emprego no serviço público. Ingressou na Capitania dos Portos como escriturário júnior e, graças ao seu zelo, foi sucessivamente promovido até atingir o cargo de Escriturário-Chefe no mesmo departamento, aposentando-se com pensão ao atingir a idade limite.
O único e mais velho irmão do falecido Sr. Alves, João Miguel Alves, também era funcionário público. Quando este deixou a Função Pública, ocupou o cargo de Escriturário-Chefe no Gabinete do Secretário Colonial.
Em sua juventude, o sujeito deste aviso participou ativamente de esportes ao ar livre em Hong Kong, foi um membro proeminente da então principal associação esportiva de Hong Kong – o Victoria Recreation Club – e se interessou intensamente por todas as atividades do clube. O Sr. Alves era um bom nadador e professor de sua numerosa família de meninos na arte natatória. Desde então, seus filhos mantiveram a conexão do velho cavalheiro com o VRC, sendo o Sr. AES Alves seu eficiente tesoureiro honorário por vários anos, enquanto o Sr. AA Alves, membro popular da Bolsa de Valores de Hong Kong, permanece até hoje como membro do Comitê do VRC.
Nas corridas de cavalos, seus dois filhos mais velhos possuíam estábulos bastante respeitáveis, tanto aqui quanto em Xangai. Seu filho mais velho, “Jack”, era membro fundador do International Race Club de Xangai; possuía e montava seus próprios pôneis em Kiangwan, além de ser um cavaleiro regular nas corridas de cross-country. O Sr. AA Alves, até dois anos atrás, corria em Happy Valley e hoje é o cronometrista oficial do Jockey Club de Hong Kong, enquanto “Charlie” tem atuado, com satisfação geral, como um eficiente handicapper.
Todos os filhos dos Alves pertenceram ao Corpo de Voluntários de Hong Kong quando eram mais jovens. De intenso patriotismo, o Sr. Alves pai não se esquecia dos deveres cívicos que, segundo ele, sua família era obrigada a cumprir para com o país de sua adoção, de modo que o nome de seus filhos será encontrado inscrito no quadro de membros do Corpo de Voluntários local. Quando um contingente de voluntários foi escolhido para representar Hong Kong no Jubileu de Ouro da Rainha Vitória, o Sr. AA Alves e o Sr. AES Alves tiveram a honra de serem selecionados como representantes de Hong Kong e provaram ser unidades muito eficientes entre os jovens de Hong Kong.
Durante a Primeira Guerra Mundial, quando a Força de Reserva da Polícia foi formada, o Sr. Alves apoiou o movimento a ponto de alistarem seus dois filhos, ambos (Srs. AES Alves e CMS Alves) alcançando o posto de Inspetor da Companhia Portuguesa de Reservas da Polícia.
Seu filho mais novo, o Sr. EAS Alves, alistou-se em Hong Kong e foi para o front durante a Primeira Guerra Mundial. Assim, teremos um registro único de serviços públicos prestados a Hong Kong que, se não for medido em termos de dólares e centavos, representará, no conjunto, muito valor para a Colônia e para os moradores em geral.
Em todos os assuntos relativos à comunidade portuguesa, o Sr. Alves tinha prazer em ser identificado – em questões sociais, educacionais e recreativas. Era um fervoroso defensor do ensino da língua portuguesa, pois, por negligência, acreditava que nada contribuiria tanto para a desnacionalização dos portugueses no Oriente. O melhor monumento a esse espírito de liderança e orientação da comunidade portuguesa em Hong Kong ergue-se no Clube Lusitano, para cuja manutenção e apoio o Sr. Alves se dirigiu repetidamente aos seus membros em reuniões públicas para prestar-lhes o seu apoio leal e irrestrito.
Em reconhecimento ao seu longo período de incansável serviço aos portugueses em Hong Kong, o Governo Português conferiu ao falecido Sr. Alves, há cerca de dez anos, a honra de Comendador da Antiquíssima Ordem de Cristo. O agraciado e os seus amigos orgulhavam-se desta distinção pelo idoso cavalheiro.
Em janeiro do ano seguinte, o Sr. Alves completaria oitenta anos de idade, atingindo uma idade bastante avançada, mantendo até o fim a vitalidade habitual, que era o sinal externo e visível de um físico notável e de uma constituição física refinada.
Como alguém que convive intimamente com ele há vários anos e em posição privilegiada para compreender a extensão de sua devoção e boa vontade pelo bem-estar de seu próprio povo, posso, em conclusão, observar com sinceridade que:
Grande era sua generosidade, e sua alma sincera,
O Céu lhe deu uma recompensa tão generosa quanto a enviada:
Ele deu à miséria (tudo o que tinha) uma lágrima,
Ele ganhou do Céu (era tudo o que desejava) um amigo.