VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG. No. 5 OF 1872.
MONDAY, 29TH APRIL, 1872.
PRESENT:
His Excellency Governor SIR ARTHUR EDWARD KENNEDY, K.C.M.G., C.B. The Honorable the Acting Chief Justice (HENRY JOHN BALL).
The Honorable the Acting Colonial Secretary (CECIL CLEMENTI SMITH). The Honorable the Acting Attorney General (THOMAS CHILD HAYLLAR). The Honorable the Acting Treasurer (CHARLES MAY).
The Honorable PHINEAS RYRIE.
The Honorable WILLIAM KESWICK.
The Honorable HENRY LOWCOCK.
The Honorable JAMES GREIG.
The Council meets this day at 3 P.M., by Special Summons.
The Minutes of the Council held on the 16th April, are read and confirmed.
His Excellency opens the proceedings by stating that he has convened the Council more especially for the purpose of rectifying a mistake which had occurred at the last Meeting on his being sworn into Office, in that, whilst the Royal Instructions issued to him on the 13th of February, 1872, directed that he should take the Oath of Allegiance prescribed by the Imperial Act 31 and 32 Victoria, Chapter 72, he had taken the Oath laid down in the Imperial Act 21 and 22 Victoria, Chapter 48, as ordered in the Royal Instructions to his Predecessor, of the 14th October, 1865.
His Excellency then requests the Honorable the Acting Chief Justice to administer to him the Oath of Allegiance required by his Instructions,─and such Oath is administered to His Excellency accordingly.
His Excellency then informs the Council that the Secretary of State had very strongly impressed upon him the necessity of putting down Gambling in the Colony; and that being fully alive to the importance of the subject, he would not hesitate to call on the Council for the adoption of more stringent measures for the suppression of the vice, should experience show that those at present in force are inadequate to deal with the question.
His Excellency lays on the Table a Statement showing certain Items of Expenditure in excess of the Estimates for 1872 requiring Legislative sanction, and by direction of His Excellency these Items are explained seriatim by the Honorable the Acting Colonial Secretary.
His Excellency then moves that the following Sums, as set down in the Statement on the Table, be placed on the Supplementary Estimates for 1872, namely:─
Medical Department.
(1.) Rent of Quarters for Inspectors of Brothels, at $30 per
mensem, ........................................................................... $360. (2.) Allowance to the Ward-Master of the Civil Hospital at $5
per mensen, ...................................................................... $60. Question put and carried.
Educational Department.
(1.) Grant in aid of the Chinese School at Shek-Ó for nine
months, at the rate of $5 per mensem, .............................. $45. (2.) Rent of House to be used as a Chinese School at
Sheung-Wan, for the term of Eight Months, at $16 per
mensem, ........................................................................... $128. (3.) Salary of Teacher appointed to the said School, for a
similar period of 8 months, at $12 per mensem, .............. $96. (4.) Grant in aid of the Chinese School at Tsat-Tsz-Mui for 12
months at $5 per mensem, ............................................... $60.
Question put and carried.
Judicial Department.
Wages of a Scavenger at the Supreme Court Building for 12
months, at $6 per mensem, ..................................................... $72.
Question put and carried.
Harbor Master's Department.
Repairs and alterations to the Steam Launch "Blanche," ............ $1,500.
Question put and carried.
His Excellency invites the consideration of Honorable Members to the next Item on the Statement before the Council; namely:─the Grant of a Gratuity of $630 to CHEONG-ALAM, Porter at the Government Offices, on his retirement from his Post after 28 years and seven months of service ─ such Gratuity, as recommended by Governor SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL and concurred in by the Executive Council, being calculated at the rate of one month's Pay ($15,) for each year of service,─with an addition of 50 per cent over and above that rate, in consideration of his proved fidelity, and the courage displayed by him (and only one other Chinese employed by the Government), during the troubles of 1856 and 1857, in not deserting the QUEEN'S Service at the dictation of the Canton Authorities.
Debate ensues,─
After which, it is moved by the Honorable The Acting Chief Justice, and seconded by the Honorable The Acting Attorney General, that, as a special Case, a Retiring Allowance equal in amount to his present pay, ($15 per mensem) be granted to CHEONG-ALAM.
Question put and carried.
His Excellency then moves that the following Item be also placed on the Supplementary Estimates for 1872:─
Works and Buildings.
Construction of a Dam in the Waste Weir at Pokfoolum, $2,000. Question put and carried.
On His Excellency proposing the two next Items; namely:─
(a.) The erection of Walls on "Possession Point" to render it suitable as a Recreation Ground for the Chinese, amounting to $1,000; and
(b.) The Construction of a Market at Shau-ki-Wan, estimated at $2,200:─
Debate ensues on each Item,─and it appearing advisable in the course of discussion that further information should be obtained in reference to the proposed expenditure,─it is agreed, on His Excellency's suggestion, that consideration of the contemplated Works be adjourned.
His Excellency moves that, in pursuance of a recommendation from Governor SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, a Sum of $100 be granted to Mr. J. M. S. ALVES, 2nd Clerk in the Colonial Secretary's Office, as a remuneration for the extra work which he had been called upon lately to perform.
Question put and carried.
His Excellency adjourns the Council sine die, at 25 minutes past 4 o'clock.
A. E. KENNEDY,
Governor.
Read and confirmed, this 16th Day of May, 1872.
L. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,
Clerk of Councils.