LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 3.
THURSDAY, 15TH MARCH, 1894.
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR
(Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.).
The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (GEORGE THOMAS MICHAEL OBRIEN, C.M.G.).
the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN).
the Registrar General, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART). the Colonial Treasurer, (NORMAN GILBERT MITCHELL-Innes).
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the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).
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EDWARD BOWDLER.
CATCHICK PAUL CHATER.
HO KAI, M.B., C.M.
THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.
EMANUEL RAPHAEL BELILIOS, C.M.G.
JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.
The Council met pursuant to adjournment.
The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 7th instant, were read and confirmed, PAPERS.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following papers :---
1. Despatch from the Secretary of State on the subject of The Pó Léung Kuk Ordinance,
1893. (No. 204 of 1893.)
2. Report of the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade for 1893.
The Colonial Secretary also by command of His Excellency read the following telegram from Her Britannic Majesty's Minister at Tokio in reply to the one sent to him on the 7th instant:
"The Emperor desires to convey to Your Excellency his thanks for the congratulations of yourself and Government and to express the pleasure with which he has received them." NOTICE OF QUESTION. --Mr. BELILIOS gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would ask the following question
:
In view of the condition of the Staff of Victoria Gaol, as disclosed by the annual report of the Superintendent, what steps the Government intend taking to reconstruct the said Staff or otherwise to render it efficient?
The Colonial Secretary, by permission of His Excellency, waived the usual notice, and replied to the question.
NOTICE OF MOTION.-Mr. WHITEHEAD gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would move the following resolution :-
That in view of the fact that the present Opium Farm expires on the 28th February, 1895, and that tenders for the new farm must be sent in not later than 30th November, 1894, it is expedient that a Commission be appointed forthwith, with the amplest powers to investigate and report within four months on the working of the Farm in the past; the terms and conditions upon which and the time for which the new Farm, if any, is to be granted; the defects, if any, in the existing Opium Ordinances, and the amendments to be made therein with a view to the prevention of the smuggling of Opium, raw or prepared, from the Colony, in breach of our Treaties and engagements with the Government of China, and to the protection from risk of forfeiture and fine, through the operations of smugglers, of ships and steamers trading from this port to China and Cochin-China; and with a view to the prevention of the annoyances and indiguities inflicted upon Chinese residents and travellers by the perquisitions of the officers of excise appointed by the Farmer under Ordinance.
QUESTIONS :-Mr. WHITEHEAD, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions:
REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT.
Will the Honourable the Registrar General inform the Council whether he concurs in the recommendations made by Mr. AM. Thomson in the last paragraphs of the Acting Registrar General's Report for 1893, laid before the Legislative Council at its last meeting, in favour of retrenchment in the Registrar General's Department, amounting to close upon $5,000 per ammunt, and if so, has he at any time called the attention of the Government to the propriety of effecting such an annual saving, and if so, where, and when, and if not, why not?
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