Monday, 1st June, 1857
Present:
His Excellency The Governor,
The Honorable The Lieutenant Governor,
The Honorable The Chief Justice,
The Honorable The Acting Colonial Secretary,
The Honorable The Attorney General,
The Honorable The Colonial Treasurer,
The Honorable The Chief Magistrate,
The Honorable J. F. Edger, Esquire
The Honorable J. Jardine, Esquire
The Honorable George Lyall, Esquire
The Council met today by special summons.
The minutes of the last Council were read and approved.
The Governor stated that the Registrar General had been provided with the necessary aid for giving full effect to the recent Registration Ordinance.
The Council was also informed that a Draft code of standing orders for conducting the business of the Legislative Council as prepared by the Attorney General was already in circulation amongst the Honorable members for their observations.
With regard to the applications of the Attorney General and the Colonial Treasurer at the last meeting, His Excellency stated that the Charter of the Colony might be seen by any member in the 1st Part of the Laws of Hong Kong issued from the China Mail Office, a copy of which was lying on the Council Table, but as to supplying Members with Copies of his Instructions, the Colonial Regulations prohibited his doing so, unless by the special desire of the Secretary of State. His Excellency read Despatch No. 39 of the 25 March last from the Secretary of State, disallowing Ordinance No. 15 of 1856 "for amending the law of "Evidence and trial by Jury," and unpowering him to procure the reenactment of its principal provisions with the modification of the first clause and certain omissions in the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th clauses as pointed out in the Despatch. The disallowance of the Ordinance was made known in the usual manner by a Proclamation which appeared in the last gazette. The Governor then laid on the Table a new Ordinance in substitution of the one repealed which the Attorney General had prepared in conformity with the instructions of the Secretary of State.
Its provisions were discussed, and sections II and VII being amended, the Ordinance was read a first time.
On Suggestion of the Attorney General, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary; His Excellency proposed that the Rules of the Council requiring that a lapse of 10 Days should intervene between the first and second reading of an Ordinance, be suspended. The proposal was made, and after some discussion carried unanimously.
The Governor moved that the Ordinance be now read a 2nd time.
Question put, and passed.
The Ordinance was read a 2nd time, an amendment having been previously made to section XI.
The Governor moved that the Ordinance do pass.
Question put and carried unanimously.
The Ordinance was passed, bearing the title of "An Ordinance for amending the "Laws relating to Juries and Evidence," and being No. 7 of 1857.
It was ordered that this Ordinance be published in the next Government Gazette. The Council then adjourned sine die.
(Signed) John Bowring,
Governor.
Read and approved,
This 11 day of July, 1857.
(Signed) L. d'Almada e Castro,
Clerk of Councils.