VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG.
NO. 6 OF 1868.
TUESDAY, 13TH OCTOBER, 1868.
PRESENT:
His Excellency Governor SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, C.B. The Honorable the Colonial Secretary (JOHN GARDINER AUSTIN.) The Honorable the Acting Attorney General (HENRY JOHN BALL.) The Honorable the Acting Colonial Treasurer (W. H. ALEXANDER.) The Honorable the Auditor General (W. H. RENNIE.)
The Honorable H. B. GIBB.
The Honorable WILLIAM KESWICK.
The Honorable J. B. TAYLOR.
ABSENT:
The Honorable the Chief Justice (JOHN SMALE.)
The Council meets this day at 3 P.M. by Special Summons.
The Minutes of the Council held on the 3rd Instant, are read are confirmed.
The Bill for regulating the grant of Spirit Licenses to Hotel-keepers is read a second time, committed, and passed,—bearing the Title of—"An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, to amend Ordinance No. 11 of 1844, and to enable the Justices of the Peace to grant Licenses for the Sale of Fermented and Spirituous Liquors by Hotel
keepers, Restaurateurs and Confectioners,"—being "No. 10 of 1868."
His Excellency brings forward the Bill "for amending the Laws relating to the Construction of Buildings and Prevention of Nuisances," which had been read a first time at the last Meeting. His Excellency then having given a detailed explanation of the objects of the Bill, and the alterations which it was intended to effect in the existing Law, moves that, before proceeding to the second reading, the Bill be referred for Examination and Report to a Commission which he proposed to appoint consisting of the Colonial Secretary as President, three Un-Official Members of the Council, the Surveyor General, and such other Person as, on further consideration, His Excellency might appoint.
Question put, and Motion agreed to.
The Bill for granting a Pension to Mr. QUIN is read a second time, amended in Committee, and passed,—bearing the Title of—"An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, to enable the Governor in Council to grant a Pension to WILLIAM QUIN, Esquire, Superintendent of Police,"—being "No. 11 of 1868."
The Emigration Bill is read a second time and committed, and certain amendments being agreed to, the Bill is passed,—bearing the Title of—"An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, for repealing the 'Hongkong Emigration Ordinance, 1867,' and
for better securing the Health and Protection of Emigrants in Chinese Passenger Ships clearing from Hongkong,"—being "No. 12 of 1868."
His Excellency lays on the Table a Bill for assimilating the Laws of the Colony respecting Treasonable Offences to the Law of the United Kingdom, and explains that the Bill is virtually the same as Ordinance No. 8 of the current Year, with the omission of the Words "or without" in the Second Section of that Ordinance as suggested by His Grace The Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the ground of their being "ultra vires."
The Bill is then read a first time; and the Council agreeing to a Suspension of the Standing Orders, the Bill is read a second time, committed and passed,—bearing the Title of—"An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, to assimilate the Laws of this Colony respecting Treasonable Offences to the Law of the United Kingdom,"—being "No. 13 of 1868."
The Appropriation Bill for 1869 is read a second time, and the Council goes into Committee upon the Estimates for the said Year.
The following Votes are then agreed to:—
CIVIL ESTABLISHMENTS:— $ c. Governor, .......................................................... 480.00
Colonial Secretary, ........................................... 15,772.00
Colonial Treasurer, ........................................... 6,216.00
Auditor General, ............................................... 11,247.00
Clerk of Councils, ............................................. 100.00
Surveyor General, ............................................. 19,696.00
Postmaster General, .......................................... 34,365.00
Registrar General, ............................................. 8,124.00
Harbor Master and Emigration Officer, ........... 26,141.00
Collector of Stamp Revenue, ............................ 4,600.00
Carried forward, .......... $ 126,741.60
Brought forward, .......... $ 126,741.60
JUDICIAL ESTABLISHMENTS, ........................... 9,326.00 REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES, ............................ 217.00 ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT, .............. 1,134.00 EDUCATIONAL Do., , .............. 13,192.00 MEDICAL Do., , .............. 21,002.00 POLICE MAGISTRATES, ...................................... 6,344.00 POLICE, .................................................................. 183,492.00 GAOLS, ................................................................... 42,176.00 FIRE BRIGADE, ..................................................... 7,000.00 CHARITABLE ALLOWANCES, ........................... 500.00 TRANSPORT, ......................................................... 3,500.00 WORKS AND BUILDINGS, .................................. 190,000.00 ROADS, STREETS, AND BRIDGES, ................... 55,000.00 MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES, ........................... 27,700.00 LAND AND HOUSES PURCHASED, .................. 10,000.00 SPECIAL EXPENSES, ........................................... 45,000.00 MILITARY CONTRIBUTION, .............................. 94,200.00 TOTAL ........... $ 836,524.60
The Appropriation Bill is then amended in accordance with the foregoing Votes, and His Excellency puts the Question—that this Bill as amended do pass, and that the Title be—"An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, to apply a Sum not exceeding Eight hundred and Thirty-seven thousand Dollars to the Public Service of the Year 1869."
Question put and carried,—the Ordinance being numbered "No. 14 of 1868." His Excellency adjourns the Council at 6 O'clock.
J. R. BRUNKER,
Lieutenant Governor.
Read and confirmed, this 7th Day of November, 1868.
L. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,
Clerk of Councils.