LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 15.
FRIDAY, 24TH JULY, 1891.
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT Major-General G. DIGBY BARKER, C.B.
The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN).
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the Acting Attorney General, (ANDREW JOHN LEACH).
the Registrar General, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART).
the Colonial Treasurer, (NORMAN GILBERT MITCHELL-INNES). the Surveyor General, (SAMUEL BROWN).
PHINEAS RYRIE.
JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.
Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.
THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.
ABSENT:
The Honourable CATCHICK PAUL CHATER,
The Council met pursuant to adjournment.
4B
The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 17th July, 1891, were read and confirmed. PAPERS LAID ON THE TABLE.-The Acting Colonial Secretary, by direction of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid on the table the Report of Proceedings of the Public Works Committee at Meetings held on the 11th and 22nd of June and the 21st of July, 1891.
VOTE PASSED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Acting Colonial Secretary, by direction of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee, dated the 17th July, (No. 8), and moved that the Vote referred to therein be passed,
viz.:-
1536 & 1539 of 1891.
C.S.O. A sum of Forty-eight Dollars, ($48), for the Salaries of two Coolies, one for Sai- yingpoon, and the other for Wanchai School, at $6 per month, from 1st Sep- tember to 31st December of the current year,
The Colonial Treasurer seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
Vote passed.
The Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD asked the following questions:-
$ 48.00
1. Is the Government aware of, and if so, did it sanction the blasting of rock which took place in the drain in the comparatively narrow thoroughfare of Queen's Road Central, opposite the Hongkong Hotel, where the life of the city concentrates, on Monday 13th, Wednesday 15th, and Thursday 16th July to the serious danger of life and property?
2. Will the Government inform the Council in regard to the position of the matter of the general extension and sanitary improvement of the Public Recreation Ground in the Happy Valley, including the extension of the Race Course, and state whether it is intended to proceed with the scheme for which the money was voted by the Council in the estimates for this year. 3. Will the Government inform the Council whether the seven years' lease is to be issued of that piece of ground at the Race Course to the east of the Bowrington Canal, known as the Public "Gardens, as granted to the Hongkong Athletic Club in the Honourable the Colonial Secretary's letter, No. 1094 of 31st May, 1890, addressed to Mr. W. H. Young, and if not to be issued will the Government state the reasons for its not fulfilling the promise made to the Athletic Club as above stated.
The Acting Colonial Secretary and His Excellency replied.
BILL ENTITLED "AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE LAW IN RESPECT OF THE SALE OF SHARES IN COMPANIES REGISTERED UNDER THE COMPANIES ORDINANCES 1865 TO 1886 AND IN OTHER JOINT STOCK COMPANIES."-The Honourable J. J. KESWICK moved the third reading of the Bill.
The Honourable Ho KAI seconded.
The Honourable P. RYRIE moved as an amendment that the Bill be recommitted.
The Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD seconded.
The Council divided on the amendment when it was rejected by eight to two votes.
The Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD moved as an amendment that the Bill be read that day three months,
This motion was not seconded.
Question that the Bill be read a third time and passed-put and agreed to on a division by a majority of nine to one.
Bill read a third time and passed.