28th June, 1853.
Present
His Excellency The Governor
The Honorable the Colonial Treasurer
The Honorable C. B. Hillier, Esqre
The Honorable J. F. Edger, Esqre
The Council met today by Special Summons.
The Honorable the Attorney General was present as Legal Adviser to the Government.
The Minutes of the last Council were read and approved.
The Governor called the attention of the Council to Despatch No. 7 of 8th April, from His Grace The Duke of Newcastle, and its Inclosure, being a report of the Board of Trade upon the Ordinance No. 6 of 1852, both of which had been previously sent round for the consideration of Members. The points alluded to in the Report were then discussed, and , although the soundness of the objections pointed out therein was fully admitted so far as refers to Seamen in England or elsewhere, the Council was nevertheless of opinion that those objections were not applicable to their condition in Hongkong, nor so important as to call for a re-enactment of the Ordinance, but they agreed that the Certificates of Discharge should be returned to the Seamen on their leaving the Port; and to secure the carrying-out of this measure, the Council advised that the Harbour Master be instructed to hand over such discharges to the Masters of the Ships in which the Seamen have engaged to serve, for the purpose of being delivered to the Seamen after the vessel had quitted the Port. Accordingly, His Excellency The Governor undertook to prepare an additional report on the Ordinance, and to urge the confirmation thereof in its present shape.
(Signed) S. G. Bonham.
Read and approved this 16th day of August, 1853.
(Signed) L. d'Almada e Castro,
Clerk of Councils.
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(True Copy)
[Signature of L. d'Almada e Castro]
Clerk of Councils.