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The Acting Colonial Secretary moved that the Council adjourn till 4.45 o'clock, to enable the address of the Council in reply to the speech of His Excellency to be prepared.
The Treasurer seconded.
Question-put and passed.
The Council re-assembled at 5 P.M.
The Chief Justice took the Chair.
The Clerk of Councils read at the table the following address to be presented to His Excellency, in reply to the speech he had been pleased to deliver to the Council:-
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,
We learn with satisfaction from the Address delivered by Your Excellency that the favourable anticipations formed respecting the Revenue of the Colony for this year will most probably be realized, and we believe that the increase which has yearly taken place in the Revenue will be maintained. We think we may safely rely upon the Revenue of 1888 being sufficient to meet the demands which may be made upon it. We agree with Your Excellency that it is still necessary to exercise a strict super- vision over the expenditure.
2. We learn with pleasure that a sum of $12,000 is all that will be required in 1888 to complete the Taitam Water-Works.
3. Among the measures which Your Excellency proposes to present for the consideration of the Council, we attach special importance to the following:-
A Bill dealing with the Triad and other Secret Societies;
A Bill for the better Protection of young Girls; and
A Bill for the Police supervision of certain Criminals.
This last measure, in presence of the number of recommittals, we believe to be greatly needed. 4. We observe with approval that a Bill embodying the recommendation of the recent Gaol Com- mission respecting whipping for certain offences has been prepared.
5. With respect to the other Bills mentioned in Your Excellency's Address, we trust that they may, during this Session, be added to the Statute-book, as, judging from their titles, we believe that they will prove eminently beneficial to the interests of the Colony.
6. We learn with satisfaction that the question of a Lighthouse for the Southern approach to the Colony is at last receiving serious attention, and we hope that shortly this matter will take a practical shape. The want of such a light has been much felt for many years, and no other port of the world of the magnitude of Hongkong is without a leading light to its principal approach.
7. We join Your Excellency in regretting that there should be any difficulty in carrying out a scheme so desirable and so greatly needed as the extension of the Praya.
8. It is satisfactory to learn that progress is being made with the larger Public Works and under- takings of the Colony, and that arrangements for the erection of the new Central Market are well advanced.
9. We have heard with regret that this is probably the last Session during which Your Excellency will preside over this Council, and we beg to assure you of our hearty co-operation in all such measures conducive to the welfare of the Colony as Your Excellency may bring before us.
Mr. RYRIE moved that the Address as read be adopted, and addressed the Council.
Mr. J. BELL-IRVING seconded the motion, and addressed the Council.
Mr. MACEWEN addressed the Council.
The Surveyor General addressed the Council.
The Acting Attorney General addressed the Council.
The Treasurer addressed the Council.
Question-put and passed.
The Acting Colonial Secretary moved that the Address in reply be presented to the Officer Administering the Government by Mr. RYRIE and Mr. BELL-IRVING at Government House to-morrow, at 1 P.M., it having been ascertained that that hour would be convenient to His Excellency.
Question-put and passed.
BILLS READ A FIRST TIME. On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, the following Bills were read a first time:---
(1.) A Bill entitled An Ordinance for the better protection of young Girls.
(2.) A Bill entitled An Ordinance for enabling the Legislative Council and any Committee
thereof to compel the attendance of and to administer Oaths to Witnesses. (3.) A Bill entitled An Ordinance to enable the Governor of Hongkong to appoint Commissioners under the Seal of the Colony and to confer certain powers on Commis- sioners so appointed necessary for conducting Inquiries.
(4.) A Bill entitled The Cattle and Markets Ordinance, 1886.
NOTICE OF SECOND READING.-The Acting Attorney General gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would move the second reading of these Bills.
ADJOURNMENT.—The Council adjourned until Friday, the 12th instant, at 4 P.M.
Read and confirmed, this 12th day of November, 1886.
ARATHOON SETH,
Clerk of Councils.
W. H. MARSH, Administering the Government.
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