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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL No. 14.
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WEDNESDAY, 27TH JANUARY, 1886.
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PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY WILLIAM HENRY MARSH, C.M.G.,
Administering the Government in the absence of His Excellency SIR GEORGE FERGUSON BOWEN, G.C.M.G. His Honour the Chief Justice, (SIR GEORGE PHILLIPPO, Knt.)
The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (FREDERICK STEWART, LL.D.)
,, the Attorney General, (EDWARD LOUGHLIN O'MALLEY.)
,, the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER.)
,, the Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE.)
,, PHINEAS RYRIE.
,, WILLIAM KESWICK.
,, THOMAS JACKSON.
,, FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON.
,, WONG SHING.
The Council met pursuant to adjournment.
The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 20th instant, were read and confirmed.
VOTE OF MONEY REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.—Read the following Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government:—
W. H. MARSH.
C.S.O.
2985 of 1885. The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to re-vote the sum of $5,000 which was not expended last year on the re-construction of Pedder's Wharf.
The Surveyor General has recommended that the pier should be constructed of Aranga wood which is much more durable than the ordinary hard wood. This would raise the original estimate from $10,000 to $14,300. It therefore becomes necessary to provide the additional sum of $4,300 which, with the $5,000 in this year's estimates, and the $5,000 to be re-voted, will meet the revised estimate of the cost of the pier.
The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote this additional sum of $4,300.
Government House, Hongkong, 25th January, 1886.
The Acting Colonial Secretary moved that this Minute be referred to the Finance Committee. The Colonial Treasurer seconded.
Question—put and passed.
VOTES PASSED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.—The Acting Colonial Secretary moved the following votes passed by the Finance Committee:—
PAYMENTS AUTHORIZED IN EXCESS OF THE ESTIMATES OF 1886.
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SERVICES EXCLUSIVE OF ESTABLISHMENTS.
Gaol.
C.S.O.
2421 of 1885. For rent of a house in Wyndham Street, to be used as a prison for females, at $40 per month, $ 480.00
Roads, Streets and Bridges.
C.S.O.
14 of 1886. Erection of a Sea-wall and embankment at Kowloon Point, ..................................................... $ 23,000.00 Miscellaneous Services.
C.O. Circular Despatch of 13 Nov., 1885.
Subscription to the Strangers' Home for Asiatics, Africans, and South Sea Islanders, say, .................................................................................................................. £10.10.0 @ 3/4= $ 63.00
Seconded by the Colonial Treasurer. Question—put and passed.
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PAPERS.—The Acting Colonial Secretary, by direction of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid on the table the following paper:—
Report of the Captain Superintendent of Police, for 1885. (No. 10).
QUESTION.—The Honourable W. KESWICK, pursuant to notice, asked the following question:—A difference in interpretation having been given to the law regulating the survey of coppered vessels since April, 1884, and a practice having been introduced since that date, which is at variance with that which was followed for at least as far back as 1879, will His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government state why the change has been made, and a new, and, it is believed, unnecessary procedure adopted?
The Honourable the Attorney General replied.
The Honourable W. KESWICK gave notice that, at the next meeting of Council, he would move a resolution on this subject.
BILL ENTITLED THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES AND FESTIVALS ORDINANCE, 1886.—FIRST READING.—On the motion of the Attorney General, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, this Bill was read a first time.
The Attorney General gave notice that, at the next meeting of Council, he would move the second reading of this Bill.
BILL ENTITLED THE PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS ORDINANCE, 1886,—COMMITTED.—On the motion of the Attorney General, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, the Council went into Committee on this Bill.
Progress reported.
BILLS READ A THIRD TIME, AND PASSED.—On the motion of the Attorney General, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, the following Bills were read a third time, and passed:—
1. A Bill entitled An Ordinance to empower the Colonial Treasurer to pay otherwise than to Executors or Administrators small Sums due on account of Pay or
Allowances to Persons deceased.
2. A Bill entitled An Ordinance for the better Apportionment of Rents and other periodical Payments.
3. A Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Law relating to Larceny and Embezzlement. 4. A Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Law relating to the Custody of Infants.
5. A Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Law relating to Sales of Reversions.
POSTPONEMENT OF THE OTHER ORDERS OF THE DAY.—The Attorney General moved the postponement of the other Orders of the Day.
Question—put and passed.
The Council then adjourned until Wednesday, the 3rd February, at 4 P.M.
W. H. MARSH,
Administering the Government.
Read and confirmed, this 3rd day of February, 1886.
ARATHOON SETH,
Clerk of Councils.