23rd May, 1854.
Present
His Excellency The Governor
The Honorable the Acting Attorney General
The Honorable C. B. Hillier, Esqre
The Honorable J. F. Edger, Esqre
The Council met today by Special Summons.
The Minutes of the last Council were read and approved.
The Governor laid on the table a Draft Ordinance to supply an omission in Section IX of Ordinance No. 4 of 1853, recently confirmed by Her Majesty, which allows the sale of opium by retail for money only, but imposes no penalty for the breach of the Law. The subject being considered it was Resolved at the suggestion of the Chief Magistrate, in which the Acting Attorney General concurred, that the deficiency should be supplied by the insertion of a penal clause in the License. The Superintendent of Police to be instructed accordingly.
A Draft Ordinance to amend the Law of Libel in Hongkong being then introduced by His Excellency, it was agreed that the passing of the same should be deferred until consideration is given to a proposal for declaring other Acts of the Imperial Parliament to be in force in the Colony.
Read a first time a Draft Ordinance entitled "The Markets Ordinance" which was ordered to be sent round to Members.
(Signed) W. Caine
Read and approved this 29th Day of May, 1854.
(Signed) L. d'Almada e Castro,
Clerk of Councils.