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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 18TH JANUARY, 1890.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 27.
His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to issue the following Commission to enquire into the working of the Hongkong Observatory.
By Command,
F. FLEMING, Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 18th January, 1890.
[L.S.] G. WILLIAM DES VEUX.
Whereas it is expedient that a Commission be appointed to enquire into the working of the Hong- kong Observatory with special reference to the following details viz.:-
1. Whether the establishment of the Observatory has effected an improvement on the system of storm warnings which previously existed, and what measures could be taken to secure or to increase improvement in this direction.
2. The causes of failures, if any, in the system of storm warnings as worked from the Observatory.
What causes led to the absence of warning of the storm of October 13–16.
3. The practical advantages to the Community of this Colony obtained from the Observatory as
at present established, and how such advantages may be increased.
4. What proportion of the time of the Director and Staff of the Observatory is occupied in securing these practical advantages, as compared with time devoted to the general advancement of
science.
5. Whether the present expenditure on the Observatory is justified in view of the practical advantages above referred to. Whether the provision of a direct cable across the Harbour to secure regularity of communication; and the cost of working and maintaining it, was a justifiable expense;
and whether further expenditure in the same direction (e.g. in payments to observers at Bolinao and elsewhere) might be considered desirable in view of the results to be expected from them.
6. Whether the Commission would recommend the continuance of the Observatory, with its present
or any other organisation.
7. Any recommendations the Commission desire to make on the above subjects.
Now, therefore, I. Sir G. WILLIAM DES VEUX, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hong- kong and its Dependencies and Vice-Admiral of the same, in Executive Council assembled, do hereby under the powers vested in me by Ordinance 27 of 1886 entitled The Commissioners Powers Ordinance, 1886, appoint you :-
1. The Honourable WALTER MEREDITH DEANE, Captain Superintendent of Police and a Member
of the Executive and Legislative Councils;
2. The Honourable ALEXANDER PALMER MACEWEN, a Member of the Legislative Council
3. HARRY T. GRENFELL, Esquire, Captain in the Royal Navy;
4. JAMES CAMPBELL BARKER, Esquire, Major in the Corps of Royal Engineers;
;
5. ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, Esquire, Retired Commander in the Royal Navy and Harbour
Master of the said Colony; and
6. NATHANIEL JOSEPH EDE, Esquire, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said Colony;
to be a Commission for the purpose of instituting, making, and conducting such enquiry: And I do hereby appoint you the said WALTER MEREDITH DEANE to be the Chairman of such Commission: And I do hereby order and direct that for all or any of the purposes of this Commission four Members thereof inclusive of the Chairman shall be and constitute a quorum. And I do further hereby order and direct that the said Commission shall, for the purpose of making the said enquiry, have all such powers as are vested in the Supreme Court of this Colony or in any. Judge thereof on the occasion of any suit or action in respect of the following matters viz.:—
The enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them on Oath, affirmation, or otherwise; The compelling the production of documents;
The punishing persons guilty of contempt;
The ordering the inspection of any property;
With power also, for the purpose of this Commission, to enter and view any premises:
And I do hereby further direct that every examination of witnesses shall be held in private ; And I do further require you to report to me the evidence and your opinion thereon: And I hereby charge all persons in the Public Service to assist you herein:
Given under my hand and the Public Seal of the Colony, in Executive Council, this 14th day of January, 1890.
By Command,
ARATHOON SETH, Clerk of Councils.