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Rh Adalbert (May 1, 1880), assisted at the unveiling of the portrait of the Prince Consort at Government House (May 7, 1883) and acted as joint host with the Governor in receiving the Duke of Genoa and the community of Hongkong at Government House on the occasion of Her Majesty's birthday (May 24, 1880). Next year King Kalakau, of the Hawaiian Islands, arrived in Hongkong (April 12, 1881), and stayed at Government House. Mr. C. P. Chater gave a public banquet in his honour (April 18, 1881) at Kowloon, and a public reception was held on the same evening at Government House. The King left for Bangkok a few days later (April 21, 1881), not without having had a taste of the bitter feeling existing at the time between the Governor and the British community. The greatest event, however, was the arrival (December 20, 1881) of the Detached Squadron with the Princes Albert Victor and George of Wales on board the Bacchante. A ball was given in honour of the Royal visitors at Government House (December 22, 1881) and the town was festively illumined (December 24, 1881), but the public had no opportunity of seeing the Princes, until December 30, 1881, when, after calling at Government House, and taking lunch there, the Princes attended in the evening a public subscription ball given at the City Hall. The Princes, having previously visited Canton (26th to 29th December), left Hongkong on the last day of the year. The visits of the ex-Governor, Viscount de Paco d'Arcos, of Macao (October 31, 1879), of his successor Senhor da Graça (November 26, 1879), and of the Brazilian Embassy to Peking (May 28, 1880) conclude the list of foreign representatives entertained at Hongkong during this period.

A new Charter, issued by Letters Patent (April 9, 1877), revoked the Supplementary Charter of June 8, 1875, and defined the constitution, power and authorities of the office of Governor, stated that Members of Executive Council may be appointed by Warrant or by Instructions, and added to the power of granting pardons also that of remitting fines. The new Charter further revoked Article XI. of the Charter of 1843 and stated that, in case of death, incapacity or absence