PRESENT:―
( 16 )
29TH JUNE, 1905.
The Council resumed.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MATTHEW NATHAN, K.C.M.G.
H.E. MAJOR-GENERAL VILLIERS HATTON C.B. (Commanding the Troops).
Hon. Mr. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. Sir H. S. BERKELEY, K.C. (Attorney General).
Hon. Mr. L. A. M. JOHNSTON (Colonial Treasurer).
Hon. Mr. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-General). Hon. Captain L. A. W. BARNES-LAWRENCE, R.N. (Harbour Master).
Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Sir C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. Dr. HO KAI, M.B., C.M., C.M.G. Hon. Mr. WEI YUK.
Hon. Mr. C. W. DICKSON.
Hon. Mr. GERSHOM STEWART.
Mr. A. G. M. FLETCHER (Clerk of Councils). The minutes of the previous meeting, meeting No. 4 of the present year, were confirmed.
Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY―Sir, I beg to move that the report of the Finance Committee (No. 3) be adopted.
Hon. COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and it was carried.
Hon. ATTORNEY GENERAL―Sir, I beg to move that the Council resolve itself into Committee of the whole Council on the Bill entitled An Ordinance to facilitate the transfer of land in the New Territories and for the settling of disputes in respect thereof and for other purposes.
Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and it was carried.
Hon. ATTORNEY GENERAL―As a result of the further consideration which has been given to this Bill, it is proposed that in Clause 5 the word "instrument" shall be followed by the words "judgment, order or Lis Pendens. This is proposed owing to the limited interpretation previously given to the word "instrument."
This was agreed.
Hon. ATTORNEY GENERAL―Sir, I beg to propose the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to facilitate the transfer of land in the New Territories and for settling disputes in respect thereof and other purposes.
Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and it was carried.
HIS EXCELLENCY―That is all the business before the meeting. With regard to the Bill relating to the Merchant Shipping Ordinance several amendments have been proposed, and it is necessary that they should receive consideration. The Bill will not, therefore, be brought before the Council at present. I trust it will not be necessary to call the Council together again until the Estimates are ready. The Council will adjourn sine die.
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FINANCE COMMITTEE.
There was afterwards a meeting of the Finance Committee, the Hon. Colonial Secretary presiding. The following votes were made:―
SANITARY DEPARTMENT.
Financial Minute―No. 19. The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $19,363 in aid of the vote, sanitary department, other charges, for scavenging city, villages and hill district.
Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY―The vote for this year is not sufficient owing to new and extended contracts, which were dearer than last year. They were considered necessary in order to cope with the proper extermination of vermin.
Hon. Mr. GERSHOM STEWART ― The guarantee was $80,000, was it not?
Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY ― I do not remember the exact figures. It was somewhere about that.
Hon. Mr. GERSHOM STEWART―Pretty high. The COLONIAL SECRETARY―More stringent contracts have been entered into, and we have more control over the contractor.
The recommendation was agreed to.