LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 7.
TUESDAY, 18TH APRIL, 1899.
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR
(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).
His Excellency Major-General WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK).
the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).
the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (ALEXANDER MACDONALD THOMSON).
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the Director of Public Works, (Robert DalY ORMSBY),
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CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.
Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.
THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.
EMANUEL RAPHAEL BELILIOS, C.M.G.
JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING. WEI YUK.
ABSENT:
The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).
the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, Ú.M.G.).
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The Council met pursuant to summons.
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The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 13th March, 1899, were read and confirmed. PAPER.-The Acting Attorney General, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following paper:--
Extracts from Papers relating to the Extension of the Colony of Hongkong.
NOTICE OF QUESTION.-Mr. BELILIOS gave notice that at the next meeting he would ask the following questions :-
1. The Secretary of State for the Colonies having only sanctioned the collection of duties on Opium by this Government, do the Government propose to collect Customs duties on other commo- dities?
2. The Stations formerly belonging to the Imperial Maritime Customs having been taken over by the Police, will the Government say whether or not the Customs Officials are still in occupa- tion?
3. Have the Colonial Government undertaken to collect duties temporarily or for an indefinite
period?
RESOLUTION.-The Acting Attorney General moved the following resolution :—
That this Council approves of the repeal by the Sanitary Board of the Bye-laws made by the Sanitary Board on the 11th day of April, 1895, under section 13, sub-section 14, of the Public Health Ordinance, 1887, and approved by the Legislative Council on the 23rd day of May, 1895, such repeal to take effect from the 27th day of February, 1899, the date on which the new Bye-laws in substitution for those now repealed were approved by the Legis- lative Council.
The Director of Public Works seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
QUESTIONS.-Mr. BELILIOS, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions:-
(1.) Has the Government received a copy of a letter from the Director of the Manila Observatory, dated the 7th March, in which he complains of a letter addressed by the Director of the Hongkong Observatory to the Weather Bureau of the Government of the United States of America, in which the said passages are said to occur:-"The Observatory in Manila is in the hands of men who possess very little scientific education" and that "scandal is caused by the Observatory continually communicating sensational typhoon warnings to the newspapers in Hongkong"?
(2.) Was this communication to the Weather Bureau of the United States Government made
with the knowledge and consent of the Colonial Government?
(3.) Has Dr. Doberck been asked to explain his action in condemning an Observatory to whom the Colony is so much indebted for the timely storm warnings received for a number of years past?
(4.) What action do the Government propose to take in this matter?
(5.) Is not an apology or an explanation due to the Director of the Manila Observatory from
the Government?