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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL No. 12.
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FRIDAY, 21ST JANUARY, 1887.
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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.)
,, the Acting Attorney General, (EDWARD JAMES ACKROYD.)
,, the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER.)
,, PHINEAS RYRIE.
,, WONG SHING.
,, JOHN BELL-IRVING.
,, ALEXANDER PALMER MACEWEN, (vice the Honourable THOMAS JACKSON, on leave). ,, CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, (vice the Honourable FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON, on leave). ABSENT:
The Honourable the Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE), by leave.
,, HENRY GEORGE THOMSETT, R.N., by leave.
The Council met pursuant to adjournment.
The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 14th instant, were read and confirmed.
CHEFOO CONVENTION, ADDITIONAL ARTICLE.―The Officer Administering the Government informed the Council that he had received a telegram from Her Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking to the effect that on and after the 1st February next, the additional article to the Chefoo Convention would be put in force at the Treaty Ports; and that Duty and Lekin on Opium amounting to Tls. 110 per picul would be levied by the Foreign Inspectorate of the Chinese Customs.
His Excellency also stated that he was further informed that Duty and Lekin on junk-shipped Opium from Hongkong would continue to be collected by the Chinese Officials as at present, at the Stations around Hongkong and Macao till the 1st of April.
VOTES OF MONEY REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.―Read the following Minutes by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government:―
(1.)
W. H. MARSH.
C.S.O.
2658 of 1886. The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to re-vote the sum of $19,000, for the construction of a Steam-tug to remove rubbish.
This sum was voted in last year's Estimates, but not expended, as the work was not then finished. Accounts have been presented for the payment of a portion of this work, and the balance will be required in March.
Government House, Hongkong, 17th January, 1887.
(2.)
W. H. MARSH.
C.S.O.
151 of 1887. The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to re-vote the sum of $8,950, being the balance of $11,500 voted by the Council on the 19th of November last for the construction of a retaining-wall along the northern face of the cliff upon which the Government Hospital buildings are built. Only $2,550 of this vote were spent during last year. A further sum of $5,000 is now due, and the remainder will be required shortly.
Government House, Hongkong, 20th January, 1887.
The Acting Colonial Secretary moved, that these Votes be referred to the Finance Committee. The Treasurer seconded.
Question―put and passed.
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PAPER.―The Acting Colonial Secretary, by direction of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, lays upon the table the following paper:―
Report of the Superintendent of the Gaol for 1886. (No. 887 ).
QUESTION.―Mr. MACEWEN, pursuant to notice, asked:―
Whether it is the intention of the Government to hand over the Lazaretto on Stone Cutters' Island to the War Office, and, if so, what has been done to obtain a site for a new Building to receive the sick from quarantined vessels?
The Acting Colonial Secretary, replied.
Mr. MACEWEN, pursuant to notice, then asked:―
When the new Ordinance for amending the Laws relating to Public Health in the Colony of Hongkong will come before the Council?
The Acting Attorney General replied.
BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF THE TRIAD SOCIETY AND OTHER SECRET SOCIETIES AND FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF THE MEMBERS THEREOF.―On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, this Bill was read a first time.
BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO REGULATE THE CARRYING AND POSSESSION OF ARMS.―On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, this Bill was read a first time. BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE FOR PROMOTING THE REVISION OF THE STATUTE LAW BY REPEALING CERTAIN ENACTMENTS WHICH HAVE CEASED TO BE IN FORCE OR HAVE BECOME UNNECESSARY.―The Acting Attorney General moved the second reading of this Bill, and addressed the Council on the objects and reasons of it. The Acting Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question―put and passed.
Bill read a second time.
BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE LAW RESPECTING DEFAMATORY WORDS AND LIBEL.―The Acting Attorney General moved the second reading of this Bill, and addressed the Council on the objects and reasons of it. The Acting Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question―put and passed.
Bill read a second time.
BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 8 OF 1879.―On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, the Council resumed consideration, in Committee, of this Bill. Bill reported with amendments.
The Acting Attorney General gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would move the third reading of this Bill.
BILL ENTITLED THE POST OFFICE ORDINANCE, 1887.―On the motion of the Colonial Treasurer, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, this Bill was read a third time.
Question put―that this Bill do pass.
Bill passed, and numbered as Ordinance No. 1 of 1887.
BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE PROMISSORY OATHS ORDINANCE, 1869.―On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, this Bill was read a third time. Question put―that this Bill do pass.
Bill passed, and numbered as Ordinance No. 2 of 1887.
POSTPONEMENT OF THE OTHER ORDERS OF THE DAY.―On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, the other Orders of the Day were postponed.
ADJOURNMENT.―The Council was then adjourned to Friday, the 28th instant, at 4 P.M.
W. H. MARSH,
Administering the Government.
Read and confirmed, this 28th day of January, 1887.
ARATHOON SETH,
Clerk of Councils.