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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 27TH MARCH, 1886.
MINUTE.-INVASION OF TERRITORIAL RIGHTS OF THE COLONY.-Read the following Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government:-
W. H. MARSH.
The Officer Administering the Government informs the Council that he has received a communication from Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking stating that he had made strong representations to the Ministers of the Tsungli Yamên on the unwarrantable action of the Chinese Officials in seizing a Chinese subject accused of piracy who had taken refuge in this Colony.
* The Ministers have expressed their regret for what had occurred, and assured Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires that the Governor-General of Fuhkien would be directed to make suitable excuses to the Hongkong Government, and that instructions would be sent to the High Local Officials that Hongkong was British Territory, and that any invasion of its rights or territory must be very carefully guarded against in future.
Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires expresses the belief that the representations which he has made will effectually put a stop to such occurrences in future.
The British Consul at Foochow was some time ago informed by the Governor-General of Fuhkien that the Naval Officer in charge of the Ngai San had for his irregular conduct at· Hongkong been deprived of his command and had had his button taken from him.
The status of Chinese Cruisers and their interference with the Junk trade of Hongkong will, it is hoped, be finally settled by the Commission to be appointed before long for the con- sideration of this question under the 7th Article of the 3rd Section of the Chefoo Convention. -
Government House, Hongkong, 15th March, 1886.
PAPERS.-The Acting Colonial Secretary, by direction of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid on the table the following papers :-
(a.) Despatch respecting the postponement of the proposed Loan. (No. 14.)
(b.) Despatch respecting the new Heavy Guns for Defensive purposes. (No. 15.)
(c.) Correspondence respecting Quarantine Regulations. (No. 16.)
VOTE OF MONEY PASSED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Acting Colonial Secretary read the following report of the Finance Committee:--
(Finance Committee, 12th March, 1886.)
Additional vote of £60,375 for Defences.
The Committee unanimously recommend the payment of the additional sum of £60,375. now asked for, but they do so on the distinct understanding that this vote shall be final for the military and defensive purposes of the Colony.
To pay this sum and complete the essential public works in progress, the Colony must borrow; and the result will be, that interest and the provision of a sinking fund will so cripple the resources of the Colony, that urgently needed sanitary works must, for the present, be left in abeyance. The Colony, being merely a depôt, without natural products, is unable to increase its revenue to any appreciable extent, and it will be impossible for any further contribution to be made for military purposes.
The Committee next proceed to the consideration of the means to be devised for meeting the interest and the sinking fund in connection with the Loan which must be raised.
The Committee unanimously consider that the best means of doing so would chiefly be by an increase of Stamp Dnty.
The Acting Colonial Secretary added that the Committee afterwards proceeded to consider the Loan Bill, the result of which will be brought up later, as His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government was in communication with the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the subject.
The Honourable W. KESWICK moved that, as the subject treated in the above report was of vast importance to the Colony, the consideration of the report should be postponed to this day week.
The Honourable P. RYRIE seconded.
Question-put and passed.
THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES AND FESTIVALS BILL.-REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE.-The Honourable W. KESWICK, Chairman of the Special Committee appointed to consider this Bill, presented the report of the Committee in the form of a revised Bill, and gave notice that when the Council went into Committee on the Bill he would move the addition of a clause.
QUESTION.-The Honourable W. KESWICK, pursuant to notice, asked the following question:-
When will the Lazaretto on Stone Cutters' Island be completed, and pending its con- struction, what provision will there be ready to meet any outbreak of infectious or contagious diseases?