July 80, 1898.]
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to move the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance for the Naturalisation of Tong Yuk, alias Tong Lai Ta'un.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to second.
Carried.
KOWLOON GODOWNS TRAMWAYS, Hon. J. J. BELL-IRVING-I beg to move the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to Amend the Kowloon Godowns Tramways Ordinance, 1897.
Hon. C. P. CHATER-I beg to second. Carried.
REGISTRATION OF TRADE MARKS. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I have the hon. our to move the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Law Relating to the Registration of Trade Marks.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY- I beg to second.
Carried.
CATTLE DISEASES.
|
CHINA OVERLAND TRADË REPORT.
# CONSPIRACIES.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—I beg to move the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to provide for the punishment of certain con- spiracies.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to second.
Carried.
THE SCARCITY OF BANK NOTES.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg leave to move the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ord. inance to amend the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Ordinance Amendment Ordinance, 1882.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to second.
Carried.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to move that the Standing Orders be suspended in order that this Bill may be read a second and third time and passed.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg
to second,
Carried.
The ATTORNEY:GENERAİ—-I beg to move
The ATTORNEY GENERAL-I beg to more the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance the second reading of a Bill entitled an Ordi- to further amend the Cattle Diseases, Slaughter-nance to amend the Hongkong and Shanghai houses, and Markets Ordinance, 1887.
Bauk Ordinance Amendment Ördinance, 1882. The ACTING COLonial Secretary-I beg The object of this Bill is to enable the Bank to
to second.
Carried.
THE BUILDING REGULATIONS,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg leave to
move the first reading of a Bill entitled an Or. dinance to further amend the Building Ordin- ance, 1889,
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg
to second.
Carried.
THE SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION
BILL, 1897,
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER-I beg to move the first reading of a Bill entitled au Ordinance to authorise the appropriation of a supplementary sum of three hundred and sixty eight thousand, eight hundred and sixty-nine dollars and ninety-three cents, to defray the charges of the year 1897.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to second.
Carried.
KELLET ISLAND.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to move the first reading of a Bill entitled Kellet Island Ordinance, 1898.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY--I beg
to second,
Carried.
INTOXICATING LIQUOR LICENSES. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to move the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to Amend and Consolidate the law relating to
Intoxicating Liquor Licenses.
The ACTING-COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg
to second.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-May I ask if the Government have received the report of the Commission appointed some time ago to enquire into the question of intoxicating liquors ?
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I think I can reply to that. This morning I saw the secretary of the Commission, Mr. Frank Browne, and I asked him what progress the Commission was making. I also showed him this Bill, and asked him if there was anything likely to come forth of the report of the Commission which would assist us or render it advisable to make any alteration. When he had looked at one or two points he expressed his satisfaction at the way the Bill dealt with them. He told me the report of the Commission was already under consideration and would be forthcoming in a short time, and that the Blue Book would be forthcoming in August.
Carried.
FEES FOR CHINESE CERTIFICATES. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg leave to move the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance authorising the imposition of fees for the issue, by the Government of Hongkong. of certain certificates to certain Chinese desirous of proceeding to the United States of America.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to second.
Carried.
for the notes.
increase its note issue so as to remedy the in convenience which is at present felt in conse. quence of the inadequate supply of notes. The provision requiring the deposit of dollars equal in value to the excess issue provides security Some gentleman spoke ot me the other day and asked me why a deposit of one-third of the notes issued in excess should not be considered sufficient, and seemed to suggest that the Government was acting hardly on the Bank in requiring them to find dollar for dollar. I, however, pointed ont that the proposition to deposit dollar for dollar came from the manager of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank himself. He asked that the Secretary of State might be communicated with, and that his permission to bring forward an Ordinance of this kind might be obtained. That was done and the Secretary of State agreed to law should only continue in force for a it, but stipulated that the change in the period of one year from the date of its coming into operation. Before the end of that time the matter can be considered again, and whatever course is found to be desirable will be adopted. Whether the Bank will be permanently allowed to issue in excess of their paid up capital I do not know. In the meantime
I understand that the notes at the present time are extremely scarce. It is certainly very satis factory to find that whilst some few years ago the Chinese preferred solid silver to anything in the shape of paper security they have now such confidence in the note circulation of our leading banks that they prefer notes to silver. On the other hand it is somewhat unsatisfactory to feel that the demand for notes is greater than the legal supply. Hitherto it has not been allowable for the Bank to issue and put in circulation a larger amount of notes than the paid-up capital, and in addition the Bank has had to keep an amount of coin or bullion equal to one-third of the notes issued. It is now proposed that the Bank shall be allowed to issue in excess of the paid-up capital, which is ten millions. I think that when it is remembered that the Bank has a large reserve and is willing to deposit dollar for dollar issued in excess we shall not object to meet the rublic convenience by granting the Bank's request,
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to second.
Carried.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to more that the Council resolve itself into committee
to consider the Bill in detail.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg
to second.
Carried.
The Bill was then submitted section by sec- tion, but no alteration was suggested.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg leave to move that the Council resume.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY—I beg to second.
Carried.
The ATTORney-ĠeneraL-There has been no alteration in committee. I beg to move that this Bill be read a third time and passed.
93
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to second.
Carried.
ADJOURNMENT.
The Council then adjourned until the August at three o'clock.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committed then held, the Hon. T. Sercombe Smith (Acting) Colonial Secretary) presiding.
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
VOTES RECOMMENDED.
The following votes were recommended :— A sum of one thousand four hundred and nine dollars ($1,409), being a gratuity to Mr. R. M. Jameson, late Assistant Master, Queen's College.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-Mr. Jameson retired on account of ill-health. He is not entitled to a gratuity, but as he has been in the service nine and a half years it was decided to recommend a charitable gratuity for him.
A sum of four hundred and seven dollars (8407) in aid of the vote "Health Officer of the Port for repairs to Launch," dollars ($747) in aid of the vote" Miscellaneous A sum of seven hundred and forty-seven Works," Public Works Department.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-This vote is on account of the necessity, which has lately arisen of erecting a mortuary. It was found that some inconvenience had occurred, and it was decided to remedy the inconvenience by erecting this mortuary.
C
A sum of three thousand two hundred and forty dollars ($3,240) in aid of the vote
Repairs to Epidemic Hulk Hygeia."
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-The sum of $1,000 was provided in the estimates for the Hygeia, but she has been thoroughly over- bauled and an additional $2,240 is required.
A sum of four thousand dollars ($4,000) for the extension and improvement of the Central Fire Brigade Station,
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-I am sure any gentleman who has visited the Central Fire Station will quite agree that it has hitherto been somewhat insanitary and that the accom- modation has been very meagre. His Excel- ency the Officer Administering the Govern ment in company with the Captain Superin- tendent of Police, the Director of Public Works, and myself visited it some time ago, and Mr. Ormsby reported that the most economical way of dealing with it would be to put on another storey, and this is the cost of the upper storey. It will make the place a great deal more com, modious and healthy.
A sum of five hundred and fourteen dollars
and thirty cents ($514.30) in aid of the follow- ing votes:-(a) Executioner's fee and inflicting corporal punishment $100, (b) Rent of quar- ters for Superintendent and Warders $414.30.
The ACTING-COLONIAL SECRETARY-This is owing to a larger number of executions than' usual. With regard to b, it has been found necessary in carrying out the alterations in the gaol to turn the warders out of their quarters and to rent a house at 18, Hollywood road at 875. Only $300 was voted for quarters.
The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote a sum of twelve thousand and fifty dollars ($12,050) in aid of the following votes Police. (a) Pas- sages and bonuses, $9,700 (b) Clothing and accoutrements, $2,200 (c) Bedding and mess atensils, $150.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY—IN explanation of this I beg to state that the pass- ages of retiring policemen and of policemen who have come out to take their places have cost a considerable sum, and the amount for passages and bonuses is therefore larger. Items | (b) and (c) are due to drop in exchange.
ADJOURNMENT.
The Committee then adjourned.
During the week ended the 23rd July there were two cases of plague and two deaths from the disease.