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208
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL..
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on Tuesday afternoon in the Council Chamber. Present:-
His EXCELLENCY the Governor, Sir WIL
LIAM, ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.
Hon. J. H. STEWwart Lockhart, Colonial Secretary.
Hon. H. E. PULLOCK, Acting Attorney.
General.
Hon. A. M. THOMPSON, Acting Colonial Treasurer.
Hon. F. A. COOPER, Director of Public Works.
Hon. R. MURRAY RUMBEY, Harbour Master. Hon. COMMANDER W. C. H. HASTINGS, Acting Captain Superintendent of Police,
Hon. C. P. CHATER.
Hon. Ho KAI.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G.
Hon. J. J. BELL-IRVING, Mr. F. J. BADELEY, Acting Clerk of Coun-
oils.
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
THE REAPPOINTMENT OF DR. HO KAI. Hon. Ho Kai took the oath of allegiance on his reappointment as member of the Council.
COST OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I beg to give notice of the following question: Will the Gor- ernment lay upon the table a statement show. ing the total cost of the administration or the expenditure of the Gorgrument under the head of salaries, including allowances, pensions, ex- change compensation. &c.. for the year 1890:
PAPERS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I have the honour to lay upon the table the report of the Acting Captain Superintendent of Police for 1895, and the returns of superior and subordinate courts for 15. I have also the honour to bring up the report of the Finance Committee, No. 1, and to more its adoption.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER Se- oooded.
Carried.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS laid upon the table a report of the proceedings of the Public Works Committee held on the 11th February and moved its adoption.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER conded.
Carried.
80-
His EXCELLENCY-In reference to the item marked in the Public Works Committee's report, respecting the construction of the new road from Victoria Gap to Mount Kellett, I have to say that I am decidedly in favour personally of the construction of the proposed road, because I consider the present road is not only exceedingly steep, but the wind at the Gap is extremely dangerous. The Treasurer, who holds the purse strings, has pointed out, however, that at the prescut moment there are no funds in hand to meet this expenditure, but I hope the unofficial members will accept the assurance that this road will be made at the earliest
oppor tunity.
THE SANITARY BOARD ORDINANCE. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Your Excellency, I rise to move the first reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to further amend- the Public Health Ordinance. A-memorandum explaining the objects and reasons is attached to the Bill..
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER-I beg to second.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Sir, I rise to move that the first reading of this Bill be postponed for a mouth.
His EXCELLENCY-Will it not be better to do that at the second reading ?!
Hou. T: H. WHITEAZAD-Well, sir, on the 15th December last I asked for the papers, including the reports of the unofficial members, on this subject. These were withheld and your Excellency promised that they would bo produced as soon as instructions had been re- ceived from the Secretary of-State with regard to the Sanitary Board. The changes which this Bill propose to enact are so drastic, are so radical, and are so retrograde that I think
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
before acquiescing in the first reading of the Bill all the members of the Council should have an opportunity of perusing all the papers on the subject, including the correspondence between the Colonial Government and the Home Government and rice corsa, and all postponement that I ask is only for a month, other papers bearing on the subject. The and as the sanitary affairs of the colony are still being looked after by the old Sanitary Board. I think-business might le facilitated if the postponement be agreed to.
His EXCELLENCY-Does anyone second that? Hon. IO KAI-Yes, I beg to second that. His EXCELLENCY-It is moved by Hon. T. H. Whitehead and seconded by Hon. Ho Kai that the Bill be postponed for a month. Is that go?
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Yes.
His EXCELLENCY-Personally I have objection.
The first reading was accordingly postponed
for a month.
THE REGISTRATION OF BIRTUS AND DEATHS.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to move the first reading of a Bi entitled an Ordinance to amend and consolidate the law re- lating to the registration of Births and Deaths.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. Bill read a first time.
THE VALIDITY OF ADMIRALTY|DOCUMENTS.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to more the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to prevent doubts as to the rali- dity of documents heretofore sealed with the goal of the Colonial Court of Admiralty of Hongkong. |
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. Bill read a second time.
reading of the Bill.
[March 12, 1896,
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD seconded. Bill read a second time. Council went into Committee, and the Bill went through all its stages and passed.
•
THE SUITORS' FUNDS ORDINANCE. Council went into Committee on the Bill
entitled an Ordinance to amend the law as to certain moneys paid into the Supreme Court or to the Registrar thereof.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER pointed out that the Bill, as amended, exempted funds in the hands of the official trustee. He believed the object of the Bill was that all funds for which the Government was responsible should be placed in the custody of a Government officer. The present Bill would not carry out the object the Secretary of State had in view.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I have discussed the matter with the Acting Chief Justice and also with the Registrar, and they came to the conclusion that it would be advis able to amend the Bill so as not to include the moneys which the Registrar holds as official trustee or official administrator. There is a special Ordinance dealing with the duties of the Registrar as official trustee and also an Ordinance dealing with his duties ́as' official administrator.
His EXCELLENCY—That is not in accordance with the Secretary of State's instructions?
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER—The Secretary of State's instructions will not be carried out.
His EXCELLENCY-I prefer to postpone the subject. That is all the
THE SANITARY BOARD PAPERS..
Hon T. II. WHITEHEAD-I beg to give notice Council went into Committee and the Bill of the following question:-Will the Government passed through all its stages.
THE FACTORS ORDINANCE.
'The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to move the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend and consolidate the law relating to factors.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. Bill read a second time and left in Committee. Council resumed.
THE SALE OF GOODS ORDINANCE. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I rise, sir, to move the second reading of the Bill en- titled an Ordinance for codifying the law relat- ing to the sale of goods.
*.
Bill read a second time, Council went into Committed. Bill read clause by clause and one or two minor ammendments were made.
Council resumed.
THE REGISTRATION OF A LIS PENDENS.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the practice as to the vacating of the registration of a Lis Peudens,
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. Bill read a second time. Council went into Committee. Bill passed through all its stages. Council resumed.
THE EXTRADITION OF FUGITIVE CRIMINALS. The ACTING ATTORNEY.GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to provide for the extradition of fugitive criminals from the territory of the British North Borneo Company.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. Bill road a second time.
Council went into Committee. Bill read clause by, clause and passed through all its stages
THE INCORPORATION OF THE BASEL
MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
Hon. C. P. CHATER-I beg to move the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance for the incorporation of the President in Hongkong of tho Basel Evangelical Missionary Society. This is a Bill similar, sir, in bvory respect to those passol for the incorporation of the Spanish Procuration, the French Mission, and other charitable institutions. Its object is simply to facilitate the conduct of the business of this most excellent institution. On the last occasion I informed your Excellency that all tho details respotting the introduction of a private Hill had been complied with to the satisfaction of the hon. and learned member the Attorney-General. I trust therefore that hon. members will have no objection to the second
lay upon the table a copy of the papers or cor- respondance between the Colonial Government and the Home Authorities and all other docu- ments, including the reports, or written opinions of the unofficial members, in connection with and on the subject of the Sanitary Board and its reconstruction ?
ADJOURNMENT.
The Council then adjourned until next Tues- day week.
THE RECONSTITUTION OF THÈ SANITARY BOARD.
A Bill to reconstitute the Sanitary Board was introduced at the meeting of the Legislative Council on the 10th March, but on the motion of two of the unofficial members the first read- ing was postponed for a month to afford time for the tabling of the papers on the subject.
Section 1 gives the short title as the Sani- tary Board Ordinance, 1896.
Section 2 provides that the Ordinance is to be read and construed together with the Public Health Ordinance, 1887. ~!
Section 3 repeals sections 4, 7, and 11 of the principal Ordinance.
Section 4, which is the principal one of the Bill, reads as follows:-In lieu of section 4 of the principal Ordinance, the words following are hereby substituted :-The Board shall con- sist of three official members, viz., the Director of Public, Works, the Captain Superintendent of Police and the Colonial Surgeon, and of two unofficial members to be elected by such rate- payers as are included in the special and com- mon jury lists and also by such ratepayers as are exempted from serving or juries on account of their professional avocations or as members of Council. Non-official members shall hold office for three years, but are eligible for re- election. The Board, as thus constituted, shall have all the powers, privileges, and duties of the Sanitary Board as constituted heretofore.
Section 5 provides for the appointment or election of substitute members in case of retire- ment or absence.
Section
quorum.
provides that three shall form a
The statement of objects and reasons is as follows:-
In paragraph 217 of their Report the Re- trenchment Committee commented as follows on the system of Sanitary Administration în. the colony:-
"We would call the attention of the Govern- ment to this important Department (i.e.,