LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 18.
THURSDAY, 15TH OCTOBER, 1891.
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PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT (Major-General G. DIGBY BARKER, C.B.).
The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN),
the Acting Attorney General, (ANDREW JOHN LEACH).
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the Registrar General, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART). the Colonial Treasurer, (NORMAN GILBERT MITCHELL-INNES).
the Acting Surveyor General, (FRANCIS ALFRED COOPER). 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.
The Honourable F. A. COOPER, Acting Surveyor General, took the oath of allegiance on his appointment to a seat on the Council.
The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 17th August, 1891, were read and confirmed. His Excellency then addressed the Council as follows:--
HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN,
We meet again to-day to resume our common labours in the interests of this Colony, and though the time is probably short during which I shall retain the privilege of co-operating with you, there are several measures demanding early con- sideration which I hope we may succeed in passing and, in doing so, further the good of this Community.
This Council, and, I feel sure the community at large, will regret with me the sad death of one of our Members who has been so suddenly cut off in the midst of his career.
In the late Surveyor General the Colony possessed a zealous and hard- working official, and his kindness of heart secured for him the friendship of many during his comparatively brief connection with Hongkong.
Since we last met a change has taken place in the Governorship, and I think that you will all agree with me that in losing Sir WILLIAM DES VEUX this Colony has lost the able services of one who was thoroughly imbued with the desire to promote the best interests of the Colony, and who achieved at least as large a measure of success in that direction as any of his predecessors—if not larger.
You all join with me, I know, in hoping that the change to an invigorating climate will restore to him that health the failure of which unfortunately compelled him to relinquish this Government.
Of the measures to which I have alluded a few have already been under your consideration, others have been prepared and will be immediately introduced, while some are still in course of preparation.
As regards the Opium Ordinance, which was read a first time shortly before our vacation, circumstances have since shown the desirability of continuing to keep separate as heretofore the law as regards Raw and Prepared Opium respectively, which it was proposed by the Bill to amalgamate.
That Bill will therefore be withdrawn and two new Ordinances will be at once introduced dealing separately with these two matters-a course which will, I hope, facilitate the rapid passing of both measures which it is important should become law at an early date.
I have every reason to hope that if the Government is supported in its efforts to stop the smuggling of prepared opium into this Colony, the revenue on this head will not only be maintained but may be largely increased.