LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL No. 1.
WEDNESDAY, 3RD DECEMBER, 1884.
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR
(SIR GEORGE FERGUSON BOWEN, G.C.M.G.)
His Honour the Chief Justice, (SIR GEORGE PHILLIPPO, Knt.)
The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (WILLIAM HENRY MARSH, C.M.G.)
the Attorney General, (EDWARD LOUGHLIN O'Malley.)
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the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER.)
the Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE.)
the Registrar General (FREDERICK STEWART, LL.D.) PHINEAS RYRIE.
WILLIAM KESWICK.
THOMAS JACKSON.
FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON.
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WONG SHING.
"J
Pursuant to Proclamation, the Council-met.
At 3 o'clock P.M., the Acting Clerk of Councils read the Proclamation convening the Council, as follows:--
No. 16.
[L.S.] G. F. BOWEN,
PROCLAMATION.
By His Excellency Sir GEORGE FERGUSON BOWEN, Knight Grand Cross 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.
Whereas the Legislative Council of Hongkong stands prorogued to Wednesday, the 19th day of November instant, now I, Sir GEORGE FERGUSON BOWEN, in exercise of the powers in me vested as Governor aforesaid, do hereby proclaim that the said Legislative Council be further prorogued to Wednesday, the 3rd December, 1884, on which day it shall meet for the despatch of business at the hour of 3 o'clock in the afternoon in the Council Chamber, in the City of Victoria in the said Colony; and the Members of the Legislative Council are hereby required to give their attendance at the said time and place accordingly.
Given under my Hand and the public Seal of the Colony, this 12th day of November, 1884.
By Command,
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.
FREDERICK STEWART,
for the Colonial Secretary.
His Excellency the Governor came into the Council Chamber, and having desired the Honourable Members to be seated, was pleased to speak as follows:-
HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,
I have much pleasure in opening this Session, and in inviting your co-operation in its labours and duties.
2. Full information with regard to the Financial position of the Colony at the present time will be laid before you in the Report of the Colonial Secretary and Auditor General. The political and other complications which have now for a considerable period affected generally this quarter of the globe and especially the neighbouring Empire of China, have exercised an injurious influence on trade and commerce, and consequently on the resources of this community. It is, however, believed that this depression will prove to be only temporary, and that the restoration of peace will restore the elasticity of the public revenue. Meanwhile, it will be necessary to practise a prudent economy. A list of the Public Works proposed and commenced will be submitted for your consideration; and I request, that you will report which of those works should, in your opinion, be pushed on and which postponed. Your local knowledge and experience will prove of practical advantage in enabling my Government to arrive at a sound decision on this point. It may become expedient, moreover, to revise the Estimates for 1885.