VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG. NO. 6 OF 1873.
THURSDAY, 24TH APRIL, 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 PHINLAS RYRIE.
The Honorable RICHARD ROWETT.
The Honorable WILLAIM 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 21st April, are read and confirmed.
The Council resolves itself into Committee, and resumes the discussion and consideration of the Bill relating to Fittings of Chinese Emigrant Ships, which was amended at the last Meeting of the Council.
At the suggestion of the Honorable HENRY JOHN BALL, a new Clause is introduced after Section 3, requiring Notice to be given to the Emigration Officer by the Owner or Agent and Master, of the intention to fit out a Chinese Emigrant Ship; and several alterations and additions having been made, the Bill is agreed to, and reported.
The Council adopts the alterations and additions made in Committee, and the Bill, as amended, is passed, bearing the Title of "An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, to make better Provision for the Regulation, Inspection and Approval of the
Fittings of Ships intended for the Conveyance of Chinese Emigrants, to be embarked at Ports or Place out of the Colony," being "No. 3 of 1873."
His Excellency invites Honorable Members to a consideration of the Scheme for Grants-in-aid of Elementary Schools which was submitted to the Council at its Meeting on the 17th April, in order that the plan may be set in motion, if adopted by the Council.
The Honorable the Acting Colonial Secretary, by direction of His Excellency, reads the Letters which had been received from the Very Reverend Father RAIMONDI, the Reverend Dr. EITEL, the Reverend Mr. HUTCHINSON, and the Reverend Mr. LOERCHER, expressing their views upon the subject, and concurring entirely in the plan proposed by the Government for the promotion of Elementary Education in the Colony.
The Scheme is then discussed, and approved; and the Council agrees to vote in due time the amount required to carry it out.
His Excellency lays on the Table the Bill for the better Protection of Chinese Women and Female Children, and for the Repression of certain Abuses in relation to Chinese Emigration, which was read a first time at a Meeting of the Council held on the 6th January last.
His Excellency states that the Bill had since been transmitted to the Secretary of State, and that a Telegraphic Despatch had been received this morning from His Lordship, approving of the Provisions of the Bill, and directing it to be passed without the Suspending Clause.
His Excellency then moves that the Bill be read a second time.
Question put and carried, and Bill read a second time.
The Council then resolves itself into Committee upon the Clauses of the Bill which are discussed; and the further Consideration of the Bill in Committee is adjourned until the next Meeting of the Council.
His Excellency adjourns the Council at 5 minutes before 5 o'clock, till Monday next, the 28th instant, at 2.30 P.M.
A. E. KENNEDY,
Governor.
Read and confirmed, this 28th Day of April, 1873.
L. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,
Clerk of Councils.