LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 8.
TUESDAY, 20TH JUNE, 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).
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the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).
the Colonial Treasurer, (ALEXANDER MACDONALD THOMSON).
the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.).
the Director of Public Works, (ROBERT DALY ORMSBY).
CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.
HO KAI, M.B., C.M.
THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.
EMANUEL RAPHAEL BELILIOS, C.M.G.
JAMES JOHNStone KeswickK.
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WEI YUK.
ABSENT:
The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).
The Council met pursuant to summons.
The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 18th April, 1899, were read and confirmed. PAPERS. The Acting Attorney General, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following papers :--
1. Financial Returns for the year 1898.
2. Harbour Master's Report for the year 1898.
3. Reports of the Medical Officer of Health, the Sanitary Surveyor, and the Colonial Veteri-
nary Surgeon for the year 1898.
4. Statement of Water Account for the year ending 31st December, 1898.
5. Report of the Director of the Observatory for 1898.
6. Report of the Acting Registrar General for 1898.
7. Report of the Pó Leung Kuk Society for the year ending 31st December, 1898.
8. Report of the Superintendent of the Botanical and Afforestation Department for 1898.
9. Secretary of State's Despatch with reference to the contribution fron Hongkong towards
the Funds of the School of Tropical Medicine.
10. Report of the Director of Public Works for 1898.
11. Report of the Acting Postmaster General for 1898.
REPORT OF THE STANDING LAW COMMITTEE.-The Acting Attorney General, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the report of the Standing Law Committee dated the 16th February and 2nd March, 1899, (No. 2).
NOTICE OF QUESTIONS. Mr. WHITEHEAD gave notice that at the next meeting he would ask the following questions:--
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1. Will the Government lay upon the table a statement of the amount expended by the Public Works Department for repairs and alterations to Beaconsfield" and of the re-payments made by the owner of the building in respect of the former; also state for the information of the Council under what authority this expenditure has been disbursed?
2. Will the Government lay upon the table a statement of the total expenditure payable out of the Colonial Treasury in connection with the preparations for and the occupation of the Colony's new territory leased by China to Great Britain per the Convention of 30th June, 1898? 3. What steps have the Government taken to bring the Police Force up to its full strength as authorised by Ordinance, and are the Government proprred to introduce an Ordinance sanctioning the increase of the force to a strength-sufficient for the adequate policing of the Colony's new territory?
4. Will the Government by upon the table a copy of the correspondence which passed between the British Government and the Imperial Government of China and the Colonial Government on the subject of the arrangements to be made in accordance with the Convention of 20th June, 1898, for the better protection of the Chinese revenue from loss by the smuggling of opium from Hongkong into China?