539
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 14TH JUNE, 1890.
The Attorney General moved that at the end of Section 28 the following be added "Provided that if a Bill has been considered and reported on by a Standing Committee it shall, with the assent of the President, suffice if instead of reading the whole of each clause, the marginal notes alone be read by the Clerk in Committee of the whole Council."
After discussion it was agreed to postpone the matter to allow the Attorney General to frame a clause on this principle. After further discussion it was agreed that Section 53 be amended by insert- ing after word" Colony" in the 4th line the words "and in one Chinese Newspaper."
The Council then resumed.
Honourable P. RYBIE, pursuant to notice. asked the following question :----
If the Executive will furnish the Council with any information in regard to the reported defalca-
tion in the Money Order Department of the Colony.
In
His Excellency replied--Honourable Members are aware, as indeed we are all aware,
that an official connected with the Post Office Departinent named BARRADAS disappeared from the Colony some time since. Shortly after he left I considered it my duty to cause an enquiry to be made into the alleged defalcations. Such enquiry has been made, and from the report that I received up to the present time. I regret to say that these defalcations do amount approximately to the sum that has been mentioned in the local newspapers, about $46,000. Steps were taken to arrest Mr. BARRADAS and he has actually been arrested, and I trust that before long he will be brought back to this Colony. these circumstances, I feel sure that Honourable Members will not expect me now to enter into details connected with this matter. It would not be fair towards one who, if he comes back here, will in all probability be proceeded against for a criminal offence. I may say this, however, that those whom I appointed to enquire into this matter have made certain suggestions in regard to the Post Office which will have my most careful consideration. So soon as I am able to arrive at a conclusion as to what should be done in connection with this matter, and I am at liberty to make further statements. I shall be happy to answer any further questions that may be put.
Honourable P. RYRIE, pursuant to notice, asked the following question :---
If it is the intention of the Government to take any steps in regard to the celebration of the Jubilee
Day of the foundation of the Colony.
His Excellency replied--In answer to this question I may say that the Government consider that if any celebration takes place in this Colony in connection with its Jubilee that such should take place next year.
There can be no doubt that this Colony became a British possession in 1841. In the year 1842 a treaty was passed which confirmed what had previously taken place, and in the year 1843 a charter was granted establishing this possession as a British Colony, but there can be no doubt that this Colony really became English territory when it was taken, in 1841. Now as regards the question whether any celebration should take place, I consider myself that it is not one with regard to which suggestions should come from the Government. If the public in this Colony consider that the occasion is one upon which any festivities should take place, I am quite sure that the Government would be only too happy to receive any suggestions that may be made in that direction. We know perfectly well that for all such festivities a great deal of public money is necessarily expended, and it is rather for the public to move that such expenditure should take place than for the Government to propose it. If any Honourable Member can ascertain what are the wishes of the public in this matter and forwards
conclusion he may
arrive at to the Government, I am quite sure that the Government will be most happy to consider any suggestion that may be made on the part of those through whose enterprise and industry the Colony has become as prosperous as it is to-day.
any
ADJOURNMENT. --The Council then adjourned till Monday, the 9th June, at 3 P.M.
F. FLEMING,
Read and confirmed, this 9th day of June, 1890.
P. A. HAZELAND,
Acting Clerk of Councils,
Officer Administering the Government,
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 245.
The following Bills, which were read a first time at a Meeting of the Legislative Council held this day, are published for general information.
Council Chamber, Hongkong, 9th June, 1899.
F. A. HAZELAND, Acting Clerk of Councils,