LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL No. 24.
WEDNESDAY, 14TH APRIL, 1886.
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY WILLIAM HENRY MARSH, C.M.G.,
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Administering the Government in the absence of His Excellency SIR GEORGE FERGUSON BOWEN, G.C.M.G.
His Honour the Chief Justice, (SIR GEORGE PHILLIPPO, Knt.)
The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (FREDERICK STEWART, LL.D.)
the Acting Attorney General, (EDWARD JAMES ACKROYD.)
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the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER.)
the Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE.)
PHINEAS RYRIE.
WILLIAM KESWICK.
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WONG SHING.
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ABSENT:
The Honourable the Attorney General, (EDWARD LOUGHLIN O'MALLEY,) on leave.
THOMAS JACKSON (on leave).
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FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON (on leave).
The Council met pursuant to adjournment.
The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 7th instant, were read and confirmed.
PAPERS. The Acting Colonial Secretary, by direction of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid on the table the following papers :-
(a.) Annual Weather Report of the Director of the Observatory, for 1885. (No. 25.) (b.) Report of the Director of the Observatory on Five-day Means of the principal Meteoro-
logical Elements, for 1885. (No. 26.)
(c.) Report of the Acting Superintendent of the Botanical and Afforestation Department,
for 1885. (No. 27.)
VOTES PASSED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Acting Colonial Secretary moved the following Votes passed by the Finance Committee, and laid upon the table, by direction of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee in connection therewith:-
(Finance Committee, 7th April, 1886.)
PAYMENTS IN EXCESS OF THE ESTIMATES FOR 1886.
ESTABLISHMENTS. Observatory.
740 of 1986. Salary of an additional Chinese Clerk, at $40 per month, 8 months,.
C.5.0.
SERVICES EXCLUSIVE OF ESTABLISHMENTS.
Works and Buildings.
1. General repairs to Mountain Lodge at Victoria Peak,
678 of 1886.
$ 320.00
...$1,386.00
The Colonial Treasurer seconded.
Question-put and passed.
BILL ENTITLED THE STAMP ORDINANCE, 1886.-REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE.- -The Colonial Treasurer read the following Report of the Special Committee on this Bill:-
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Report of the Special Committee of the Legislative Council appointed to consider a Bill
entitled the Stamp Ordinance, 1886.
The Special Committee appointed to report on the draft amended Stamp Ordinance, on going carefully into the probable expenditure of the Colony, are of opinion that no urgency exists for additional taxation at this time, and they recommend that the consideration of increase to the Revenue be postponed until funds are actually needed, when, should unfore- seen claims be made upon the Treasury on account of Typhoons or other local causes, the Legislative Council might be called upon to sanction an increase in the Stamp Duties, of which in principle it has approved.
Council Chamber, Hongkong, 7th April, 1886.
The Treasurer then addressed the Council and concluded by stating that he proposed that the Bill should be proceeded with, the duties being kept practically as they are in the present Ordinances with some amendments of detail and consolidation.