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HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
ELEC JN OF A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
A special general meeting of the members of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce was held at the City Hall yesterday morning, for the purpose of nominating a member for election to the Legislative Council. There were prezent -Hon, E. B. Johnson (Chairman), Hon. P. Ryrie (Vice Chairman), Messrs. H. L. Dalrym. ple, L. Poesnecker, T. Jackson, A. Gültaow, E. Mackintosh, F. D. Sassoon (Committee), W. S. Young, A. Mc Iver, W. H. Forbes, W. M. Mor- gan, Framjoo H, Arjánee, E. E. Sassoon, C. D. Bottomley, C. P. Chater, E. R. Belilios, H. Foss, J. Thorbaro, M. Grote, C. Erdmann, A. P. Mac- Ewon, F. T. P. Foster, W. H. F. Darby, T. H. Whitehead, J. M. Matson, and E. George: (Secretary).
The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, the Secretary will now read the notice convening the meeting, and then the correspondence, which is virtually our I commission for the business we have to perforin.
The correspondence consisted of the letter į from the Colonial Secretary to the Chairman of the Chamber requesting that the Chamber would nominate a gentleman for appointment to the
Legislative Council (which has already been published) and the following reply :-
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong, 28th December, 1883. The Honourablo W. H. Mausi, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary.
SIR, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the letter dated the 20th instant in which you in. form me that, on the recommendation of the Governor, Her Majesty has boon pleased to confer upon this Chamber the privilege of nominating for His Excel. lency's approval one member to a seat in the Legisla. tive Council of the colony. You further request me to make the necosanry arrangements in accordance with the rules of the Chamber to convene a meeting of the members, and to invite them to elect a member whose name is to be returned to you for submission to His Excellency.
I take notice that this return should be accompanied
by the following documents, viz. :-
A copy of the notice convening the meeting.
A list of the members present at the meeting.
A list of the candidates, with the names of their
proposers anÌ seconders.
A list of voters.
A statement of the number of votes givan for each candidate.
Ta zamoy I bog bo infawn zaw than fo song fance whu your puyten a spinal meeting of the Chamber has been convoked for Wednesday, the 2nd January, and that in due time the name of the member who will be nominated thereat will be returned to you, together with the papers asked for, excepting only the fourth one, viz., a list of the voters. It is the ractice of the Chamber to keep a record of the mem. ers present at any ballot, but not to enquire into che names of members who, although present, may decline to vote at all.
I assume that it is intended the person nominated shall be a mombor of the Chambor, but on this point your
ir letter is not explicit.
The Committee requests that you will convey to The Governor its thanks in the name of the Chamber for the wise initiative which, in the opinion of the Committee, has been taken by His Excellency in hav. ing recommended Her Majesty to anticipato the pres- sure of public opinion by conforring upon the Colo. nists a measure of popular representation which has long been urgently called for by the rapidly develop. ing interests of the colony.-I have the honour to be, Sir, your obodient servant,
F. B. JOHNSON, Chairman.
Colonial Secretary's Offios, Hongkong, 29th December, 1898. SIR,-With reference to your letter of yesterday I am instructed by His Excellency the Governor to in- form you that the candidate to be nominated for a eout in the Logislative Council should be a Momber of the Chumbor of Commerce.—I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient sorvant,
W. H. MARS, Colonial Secretary. The Honourable F. B. Johnso 1, Chairman, Hongkong Genoral Chamber of Commerce
The CHAIRMAN —Gentlemen, the function which we are called upon to perform to-day is one which is so unusual to us, and which so soldom appertains to a mercantile body such as ours, that I think you will agree with me that a few words on the subject that brings us together will not be out of place. First, I feel sure you will agree with the Committeo in thinking that the of the Chambor, act a ut only of that
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