LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 3.
MONDAY, 10TH MAY, 1897.*
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PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR
(Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.).
His Excellency the Major-General Commanding (Major-General WILSONE BLACK, C.B.).
The Honourable the Colonial Secretary and Registrar General, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART
LOCKHART).
the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN).
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the Colonial Treasurer, (THOMAS SERCOMBE SMITH).
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the Acting Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM).
the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).
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the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.). CATCHICK PAUL CHATER.
HO KAI, M.B., C.M.
THOMAS HENderson WhitEHEAD.
EMANUEL RAPHAEL BELILIOS, C.M.G.
97.
WEI YUK,
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ABSENT:
The Honourable JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.
The Council met pursuant to adjournment.
The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 3rd May, 1897, were read, amended and confirmed.
NEW MEMBER.--Mr. WILLIAM CHATHAM took his seat as Acting Director of Public Works, after having taken the oath prescribed by Ordinance 4 of 1869.
PAPERS. The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the tablet the following papers:~~~
1. Reports on the Hongkong Volunteer Corps.
2. Calendar of Probates, etc. and Return of Supreme Court Cases for 1896.
3. Secretary of State's Despatch respecting Defence Works at Hongkong. (No. 70 of 1897.) REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee dated the 3rd May, 1897, (No. 1), and moved its adoption.
The Colonial Treasurer seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
QUESTION. Mr. WHITEHEAD pursuant to notice asked the following question:
Will the Government lay upon the table a detailed statement framed in terms of and in accord- ance with the instructions contained in the Secretary of State's despatch, dated 17th March, 1897, showing (1) the estimated total revenue which will be receivable from all shipping, separately under each head, during the year 1898, and (2) the estimated total expenditure which will be chargeable to all shipping, separately under each head, during the same period?
The Colonial Secretary replied.
THE OPIUM FARM.-His Excellency addressed the Council as follows on the subject of the Opium Farm:
The Honourable Member for the Chamber of Commerce asked a question on the 7th Decem- ber last in regard to the Opium Farm. He desired to know if the Government would appoint a Commission to investigate and report on the opium revenue generally, and upon the advisability or otherwise of substituting for the present Opium Farm bonded warehouses ard a fixed duty on all opium not bona fide exported in a raw state. I may mention that I have given this matter my careful consideration and I do not intend to appoint a Commission to inquire into the advisability of substituting bonded warehouses and a fixed duty for the system at present in force.