13
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 6.
FRIDAY, 3RD FEBRUARY, 1888.
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR
.
(SIR G. WILLIAM DES VEUX, K.C.M.G.)
His Honour the Acting Chief Justice (JAMES RUSSELL, C.M.G.), vice His Honour SIR
GEORGE PHILLIPPO, Knt., on leave:
The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (FREDERICK STEWART).
the Attorney General, (EDWARD LOUGHLIN O'MALLEY).
the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER).
17
**
the Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE).
ง
"
HENRY GEORGE THOMSETT, R.N.
PHINEAS RYRIE.
""
WONG SHING.
""
""
ALEXANDER PALMER MACEWEN.
JOHN BELL-IRVING.
ABSENT:
The Honourable CATCHICK PAUL CHATER.
The Council met pursuant to adjournment.
The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 25th ultimo, were read and confirmed.
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS.-Read the following Message from His Excellency the Governor:-
G. WILLIAM DES VOUX.
The Governor has given his careful consideration, in Council, to the question recently raised by the Honourable Mr. MACEWEN with regard to the sittings of the Finance Committee. He is informed that for a long time past, nothing has occurred at any of the meetings of the Committee, which might have not been published without prejudice to the Public Service, and he moreover strongly sympathizes with the view that discussions on votes of public money should, as a rule, be held in public. On the other hand the practice of private sittings has the sanction of long usage, and though the advantages which it possesses, or the conditions that make it expedient, are not for the moment apparent, they must be presumed at one time to have existed and as therefore possible of recurrence. For this reason the Governor does not feel justified in sanctioning a complete alteration of the practice at once, but thinks that an experiment may safely be tried, which while making a sensible advance towards publicity, will permit of private sittings when they appear for any reason expedient.
It is proposed therefore that for the future the meetings of the Finance Committee shall, as a rule, be held with open doors, and that all votes be passed in public, it being however competent for any member, either by previous notice or otherwise, to secure a private discus- sion of such vote or votes as may appear to him to require it. As the principal reasons for or against every vote can under such a system always be elicited in the public hearing, either in the Finance Committee or in the Legislative Council, it is hoped that all reasonable de- mands for publicity will thus be satisfied.
On the other hand in the event, which the Governor does not deem probable, of the new practice proving by experience to have inconveniences which outweigh its obvious advan- tages, it will not be found difficult to return to that which has been hitherto followed.
Government House, Hongkong, 3rd February, 1888.
SUBSIDIARY COINS.-Mr. MACEWEN, pursuant to notice made the following motion and addressed the Council:-
That in consequence of the frequent inconvenience caused to the Public owing to the insuffi- ciency of the supply of Small Coins, the Council recommend increased quantities to be regularly sent out. Mr. MacEwen will also move for previous correspondence on the subject.
Mr. RYRIE seconded, and addressed the Council.
The Treasurer addressed the Council.
The Governor addressed the Council.