VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG. NO. 3 OF 1877.
MONDAY, 23RD APRIL, 1877.
PRESENT:
His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor (JOHN POPE HENNESSY, C.M.G.). The Honourable the Chief Justice (Sir JOHN SMALE).
The Honourable the Colonial Secretary (JOHN GARDINER AUSTIN, C. M. G.). The Honourable the Attorney General (GEORGE PHILLIPPO).
The Honourable the Colonial Treasurer (CECIL CLEMENTI SMITH). The Honourable WILLIAM KESWICK.
The Honourable JOHN MACNEILE PRICE.
ABSENT:
The Honourable PHINEAS RYRIE, The Honourable HENRY LOWCOCK,
On leave of absence.
The Council meets this day at Noon, by Special Summons.
His Excellency JOHN POPE HENNESSY, C.M.G., having entered the Council Chamber and taken his place at the Table, produces a Commission under the Royal Sign Manual and Signet, and bearing date at Buckingham Palace, the 12th of March, 1877, appointing him to be Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies.
By direction of His Excellency, a despatch from Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated 14th March, 1877, is read and is to the effect that the Commission as Lieutenant-Governor was issued, pending the preparation of the permanent Letters Patent appointing His Excellency to be Governor.
The Royal Commission is then read, and the Honourable the Chief Justice administers to His Excellency the Oaths of Office under the usual salutes.
His Excellency in assuming charge of the Administration of the Government states that it was the second time that he had had the good fortune to succeed Sir ARTHUR KENNEDY in the administration of a Colony. Whilst he could not fail to benefit from the example and experience of his distinguished predecessor, he felt on the other hand that he was at a personal disadvantage in succeeding such a Governor.
In endeavouring to follow Sir ARTHUR KENNEDY's example, there was one point of importance above all others which he would not neglect. In its mercantile transactions, no Colony in the British Empire was superior to Hongkong; to promote, and if need be to protect those commercial interests, would be the main policy of his administration.
The minutes of the lase Meeting of Council are then read and confirmed. His Excellency adjourns the Council sine die at 12.45 P.M.
J. POPE HENNESSY,
Read and confirmed, this 23rd day of May, 1877.
H. E. WODEHOUSE,
Clerk of Councils.