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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 9.
TUESDAY, 28TH FEBRUARY, 1888.
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR
(SIR G. WILLIAM DES VOEUX, K.C.M.G.)
His Honour the Acting Chief Justice (JAMES RUSSELL, C.M.G.), vice His Honour SIR GEORGE PHILLIPPO, Knt., on leave.
The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (FREDERICK STEWART).
,, the Attorney General, (EDWARD LOUGHLIN O'MALLEY).
,, the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER).
,, the Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE).
,, the Harbour Master, (HENRY GEORGE THOMSETT, R.N.).
,, PHINEAS RYRIE.
,, WONG SHING.
,, ALEXANDER PALMER MACEWEN.
,, JOHN BELL-IRVING.
,, CATCHICK PAUL CHATER.
The Council met pursuant to adjournment.
SWEARING IN OF MEMBER.―Mr. JOHN BELL-IRVING, was, pursuant to Her Majesty's Warrant dated the 7th January, 1888, duly sworn in and admitted a Member of the Council, in the room of Mr. WILLIAM KESWICK, resigned. The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 16th instant, were read and confirmed.
C. O. Desp. No. 5 of 10th Jan., 1888.
PAPERS.―Read a Despatch from the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies respecting the recent Jubilee celebrations in the Colony, and expressing Her Majesty's deep regret at the unfortunate incidents that occurred at the time.
The Colonial Secretary, by direction of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following paper:― Return of Tonnage, &c. entered the Colony in 1887. (No. 4/88).
VOTES OF MONEY REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.―Read the following Minutes by His Excellency the Governor:―
(1.)
G. WILLIAM DES VOEUX.
C.S.O.
2043 of 1887. $800.
C.S.O.
2791 of 1887, and
395 of 1888. $588.
The Governor recommends the Council to vote the sum of Three hundred Dollars as a Colonial contribution towards the maintenance of the Royal Naval Seamen's Club.
It is not unusual for Colonies, the water of which are frequented by Her Majesty's ships, to give assistance to similar institutions, which provide amusement, food, and lodging for the Seamen, and thus attract them from undesirable and injurious places of resort.
The Commodore has represented the difficulty of maintaning this Club on account of the heavy cost of rent and taxes, and has requested the remission of the latter. But while deeming it right to give some assistance in recognition of the usefulness of the institution, the Governor regards this particular form of concession as likely to become an inconvenient precedent, and he therefore recommends the above vote, the amount of which is the same as the contribution of the Admiralty.
Government House, Hongkong, 22nd February, 1888.
(2.)
G. WILLIAM DES VOEUX.
The Governor recommends the Council to vote the sum of Five hundred and Eighty-eight Dollars, for the salaries of Collector, Assistant Collector and Coolie employed in the Treasury for collecting Village Taxes and Squatter's Licence Fees.
These items were inadvertently omitted in the Treasurer's Estimates for 1888. Collector,...................................................... $ 240.00
Assistant Collector,...................................... 240.00
Coolie,.......................................................... 108.00
$ 588.00
Government House, Hongkong, 27th February, 1888.
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(3.)
G. WILLIAM DES VOEUX.
C.S.O.
2888 of 1887. $240.
C.S.O.
2885 of 1887, and
56 of 1888. $24.
The Governor recommends the Council to vote the sum of Two hundred and forty Dollars as an allowance for a Mandarin Teacher for Messrs. MAY and SERCOMBE SMITH, at the rate of $20 per month.
This was inadvertently omitted in the Registrar General's Estimates for 1888. Government House, Hongkong, 27th February, 1888.
(4.)
G. WILLIAM DES VOEUX.
The Governor recommends the Council to vote the sum of Twenty-four Dollars, as additional pay to the Gate-keeper of the Government Civil Hospital. The salary of the late Chinese Gate-keeper was $8 per month, the Superintendent recommended that an Indian should be employed at the salary of $10 per month.
Government House, Hongkong, 27th February, 1888.
The Colonial Secretary moved that these Minutes be referred to the Finance Committee. The Treasurer seconded.
Question―put and passed.
BILL ENTITLED THE TREES PRESERVATION ORDINANCE, 1888.―The Attorney General moved the first reading of this Bill.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question―put and passed.
Bill read a first time.
BILL ENTITLED THE RATING ORDINANCE, 1888.―The Treasurer moved the first reading of this Bill.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question―put and passed.
Bill read a first time.
BILL ENTITLED THE REGULATION OF CHINESE ORDINANCE, 1888.―The Attorney General moved the second reading of this Bill.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question―put and passed.
Bill read a second time.
The Council then went into Committee on the Bill.
Bill reported with amendments.
ADJOURNMENT.―The Council then adjourned to Monday, the 5th proximo, at 4 P.M.
G. WILLIAM DES VOEUX,
Governor.
Read and confirmed, this 5th day of March, 1888.
ARATHOON SETH,
Clerk of Councils.