THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 4TH NOVEMBER, 1871.
477
"To the assertion of the BARON DE MERITENS that he had seen in my hands a copy of the letter in English, I give a most uncompromising and unqualified denial; and, in order the more emphatically to meet and refute a statement so audaciously false and unfounded, I enclose herewith an Affidavit on the subject, which I have this day sworn to in Her Britannic Majesty's Consulate.
"As regards the second portion of the BARON DE MERITENS' statement, that he had seen. a Chinese translation of the same letter in the hands of the VICEROY,' I am convinced that it is equally unworthy of credence with the first. The VICEROY requests me to give an emphatic contradiction to the statement: and distinctly affirms, that during the course of the two con- versations held with Mr. DE MERITENS, no allusion was made to any such document as that referred to.
"I would merely add that Mr. BLANCHETON, Consul for France at this port, (at this moment in Hongkong,) was present at the only interviews which took place between the VICEROY and Mr. DE MERITENS. If requested, Mr. BLANCHETON will, I have no doubt, recall the conversations, and state whether or no any such document was referred to or produced. -I am, &c.,
"To the Honourable CECIL C. SMITH,"
(Signed,) "E. C. BOWRA,”
"Acting Commissioner of Customs.”
"
Registrar General,"
"HONGKONG.”
"AFFIDAVIT."
"I hereby voluntarily make oath, that I have never seen, read, held in my possession, or transmitted to the Chinese Authorities, in original or in copy, privately or officially, in English or in Chinese, in any shape or form whatsoever, any letter or memorandum from the Registrar General, or any other Member of the Hongkong Executive, relative to the esta- blishment of a Customs' system in Ilongkong. And I further state solemnly, and on oath, that I have never seen or read or held in my possession or transmitted to the Chinese Autho- ritics, in original or in copy, privately or officially, in English or Chinese, the document concerning which enquiry was made at the Meeting of the Legislative Council on the 22nd ultimo, and then stated to be in the hands of the Canton Customs."
(Signed,)
"Sworn at Canton, this 15th day of October, 1871, before me, [L.S.] (Signed,) "P. J. HUGHES,"
"H. B. M's Consul."
"E. C. BOWRA.”
The Honorable PHINEAS RYRIE then hands in to the Clerk of Councils a Paper which is returned to him by order of the Lieutenant-Governor, on the ground that His Excellency had no knowledge of its contents, and with an intimation that no question could be debated unless the same had first been proposed by the Lieutenant-Governor; but, nevertheless, that it is competent to any Member to enter upon the Minutes of the Council a copy of a written Statement of his reasons for proposing for debate any Question or Ordinance, provided that such Statement had been previously transmitted to the Lieutenant-Governor.
6
Read a first time a Bill "to authorize the Hongkong Pier and Godown Company, Limited' to construct a Pier in the Harbor of Victoria, and to confer upon the said Company certain other Powers and Privileges."
The Honorable the Acting Attorney General, by direction of His Excellency, briefly states the grounds and reasons upon which the Bill is founded.
The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency, requests the sanction of the Council to place on the Supplementary Estimates for 1871 the following Sums,-which are agreed to:-
(1).-Surveyor General's Department.
(2).-Lock Hospital.
Chair Allowance to the Superintendent of Government Gardens,
at the rate of $18 per mensein,.
$
216.00
Rent of Quarters for the Inspectors of Brothels at the rate of $30
per mensem,
175.00
(3).-Small Pox Hospital.
Salaries, Gratuities, Provisions for Patients, &c.,............
5,358.60
(4)---Police Department.
Repairs to Floating Station "John Adams,”
2,387.74
(5)-Works and Buildings.
Additional sum for the construction of the Police Station at
Causeway Bay,
2,450.00