VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG. No. 1 OF 1873.
MONDAY, 6TH JANUARY, 1873.
PRESENT:
His Excellency Governor SIR ARTHUR EDWARD KENNEDY, K.C.M.G., C.B. The Honorable the Chief Justice (JOHN SMALE).
The Honorable the Acting Colonial Secretary (CECIL CLEMENTI SMITH). The Honorable the Attorney General (JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE).
The Honorable the Acting Treasurer (CHARLES MAY).
The Honorable HENRY JOHN BALL.
The Honorable PHINEAS RYRIE.
The Honorable HENRY LOWCOCK.
The Honorable WILLIAM HASTINGS ALEXANDER.
The Honorable JAMES WHITTALL.
The Council meets this day at 2.30 P.M., pursuant to adjournment. The Minutes of the Council held on the 30th December, are read and confirmed.
The Honorable JAMES WHITTALL, pursuant to notice, proposes for debate—"That a necessity exists for the erection of two or more Light-houses at the Eastern and Western Entrances of Victoria Harbor."
Having enlarged on the manifest advantages to Foreign and Native Shipping which would result from the approaches to the Port being lighted, the Honorable Member expresses an opinion that the total cost would not exceed $25,000, which ought to be defrayed out of the Special Fund, while the maintenance of the Lights, &c., estimated at $6,000 per annum, should be provided for by Light Dues levied at the rate of 50 cents per 100 Tons.
The Honorable PHINEAS RYRIE seconds the motion.
The Honorable the Attorney General states that any legal difficulty that might have existed to the proposed scheme was met by "The Merchant Shipping Act Amendment Act, 1855," which gave power to levy dues for the erection and maintenance of Light-houses on or near the coasts of any British Possession.
His Excellency the Governor, having referred to the Reports on the subject which had been called for by Sir RICHARD MACDONELL in 1867, says that as the Un-official Members, who represent the Mercantile Community, and to whom the Government looked to initiate such questions as that before the Council, are prepared to support a measure to provide for the erection and maintenance of Light-houses, he is most anxious to take the necessary steps to carry out the Honorable Member's proposal. His Instructions, however, from the Secretary of State preclude without doubt the probability of obtaining the sanction of Her Majesty's Government to devote any portion of the Special Fund to purpose indicated. The attendant expenses would be properly met by a Loan, and the collection of Light Dues to pay off the Loan and maintain the Lights.
Debate ensues.
Question put, and carried unanimously.
The Honorable the Chief Justice presents the Report of the Special Committee on the Sheriff's Bill, suggesting amendments therein; and the same having been received,—
The Council goes into Committee upon the Clauses of the Bill.
The proposed amendments are agreed to; and some alterations and additions having been made, the Bill, as amended, is adopted by the Council.
At the suggestion of the Honorable the Attorney General, it is ordered that the passing of the Bill be deferred till the next Meeting of the Council.
Read a first time, a Bill for the better Protection of Chinese Women and Female Children, and for the Repression of certain Abuses in relation to Chinese Emigration.
The Honorable the Attorney General states the grounds and reasons upon which the Bill is founded.
After which,—it is ordered that the Bill to make better Provision for the Protection of Women and Girls, which was read a first time on the 10th December, be withdrawn.
Read a first time, a Bill to abolish Minimum Punishments on Summary Convictions before Magistrates.
The Honorable the Attorney General explains its Provisions.
His Excellency moves that there be placed on the Supplementary Estimates for 1873, the sum of $960 as an additional Salary to the Superintendent of the Civil Hospital,—an increase which has been sanctioned by the Secretary of State, in lieu of the Fees hitherto allowed to that Officer.
Question put, and carried.
His Excellency adjourns the Council at 5 minutes before 4 o'clock.
A. E. KENNEDY,
Governor.
Read and confirmed, this 11th Day of February, 1873.
L. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,
Clerk of Councils.