LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL No. 5.
WEDNESDAY, 31ST 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.
ABSENT:
The Honourable WONG SHING (by leave.)
The Council met in pursuance of adjournment.
Minutes read and confirmed.
VOTES PASSED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Colonial Secretary moved the adoption of the following vote arranged by the Finance Committee :—
That the Council now vote the sum of Fifty-five thousand six hundred and twenty-five pounds Sterling required as the contribution of this Colony to the effective defence of Hong- kong; it being understood that the armament to be provided by the Imperial Government will be of the best and latest pattern of breech-loading Ordnance, and capable of resisting attacks by the heaviest modern Iron-clads.
The Treasurer seconded the motion.
Mr. KESWICK addressed the Council.
Question-put and passed.
The Governor then addressed the Council, as follows:-
HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,-I thank you in the name of the QUEEN for this unanimous vote of the contribution required by Her Majesty's Government from this Colony towards the effective defence of Hongkong. This is, as we all know, an object of great Imperial as well as Colonial importance. I entirely agree with you that in the terms of your vote "the armament to be provided by the Imperial Government should "be of the latest and best pattern of breech-loading Ordnance, and capable of resisting attacks "by the heaviest modern Iron-clads." I shall press this point in the strongest manner possible on the Home Authorities; and General SARGENT has authorized me to say that he ⚫ will do the same. I have no doubt that we shall be successful; for by the later Parlia- mentary Papers issued on this subject, I find that the original vote for the armament of the Forts at Hongkong has been already doubled. There is also the subjoined paragraph in an Official letter from the War Office to the Treasury, dated November 1st, 1884;
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At the time the earlier Parliamentary Estimate was framed, it was intended to provide wrought iron guns as possessing sufficient power for the work they would be likely to be "called upon to perform. The armaments of the Forts, however, are required to resist the present power of foreign ships which may attack them, and consequently must be of a more "formidable nature than was at first contemplated; therefore, some of the guns have been "chosen from the latest pattern of breech-loading Ordnance; which has greatly increased "the cost."
Once more, Honourable Gentlemen, in the name of the QUEEN, I thank you for this vote,
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