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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 18TH APRIL, 1885.
VOTES PASSED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Colonial Secretary moved the following Vote passed by the Finance Committee:---
(Finance Committee, 7th April, 1885.)
C.S.0.
344 of 1885.
ESTABLISHMENTS.
Medical.
Increase to the salary of the Clerk of the Civil Hospital, from $20 to $30 per month,
rising to $40 a month by an annual increment of $2 a month, 9 months @ $10-$
Police Magistrates.
90.00
C.3.0.
of
30185, Increase to the Allowance to the Inspector of Weights and Measures, from $8 to $20 per month, from 1st April to 30th November, 1885, in lieu of receiving a portion of the fines,
96.09
C.S.O.
SERVICES EXCLUSIVE OF ESTABLISHMENTS. Treasury.
4061835. For restoring to their original condition the two shops in Praya West, recently used
in connection with the Opium boiling Factory,
202 of
Observatory.
1885. For the erection of a suitable house on piles for the proper working of the Automatic
Tide gauge, recently received from England,
C.S.O.
Miscellaneous Services.
.S
200.00
.$
200.00
651885. For surface scavenging the City of Victoria and the Villages, for 12 months,.........$18,570.00
of
PETITION.-The Honourable WONG SHING brought up a Petition from certain Chinese Merchants. praying for leave to use the Kau-ng Chek or the Custom House Standard Chek in Hongkong instead of the Chek (foot) as described in Ordinance 8 of 1885, and moved that it be received.
Question-put and passed.
QUESTIONS.-The Honourable T.-JACKSON, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions :--
1st. Has the Blockade of Pakhoi been legally notified?
2nd. Is it an effective blockade?
3rd. Can your Excellency suggest any remedies for the existing evils under which the trade of this Colony with Pakhoi, and the surrounding district is at present suffering, in consequence of the reported blockade?
His Excellency the Governor addressed the Council as follows:-
HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,-My Honourable friend who represents the Chamber of Commerce has, in the exercise of his undoubted privilege as a Member of this Council, put questions to the Government on a subject of the gravest import- ance to the interests of this community. I am very glad indeed that my Honourable friend has taken this course, because it enables me to lay before the Council a Minute giving the fullest information which I have been able to collect on all the subjects connected with the matter to which he refers. Before reading that minute I will, with the permission of the Council, inform you of a telegram which I have during the last half hour received from Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking:--
H.B.M. CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES AT PEKING TO the Governor OF HONGKONG.
(Received 8th April at 3.30 p.m.)
Protocol restoring peace between France and China has been signed in Paris, and would probably be submitted to the French Legislative Chambers on the 7th April.
Armistice with prohibition of contraband of war continues till definitive signature of Treaty. Please communicate to Admiral in command.
This, of course, I at once did. Favourable as is the prospect of peace, still as the present state of affairs seems likely to continue for a short time, I think it better that I should read to the Council the Minute to which I have referred :—
When the French Consul announced to me the blockade of Pakhoi and of the neigh- bouring Coast, I immediately (on the 6th March ultimo), telegraphed this intelligence to Her Majesty's Government, and on the following day (March 7th), I addressed to Lord DERBY the subjoined despatch: