こ
THE
Hongkong
372
Government
GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY.
NEW SERIES.
VICTORIA, MONDAY, 2D MARCH, 1857.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
VOL. II. No. 87*.
The Contract for publishing this Gazette, entered into on the 24th September, 1853, was terminated on the 30th ultimo; and notice is hereby given, that a New SERIES of this Guzette will be published hereafter, to commence from the 7th instant, under a New Contract, and that
«THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE” will, as before, be the only Official Organ for PROCLAMATIONS, NOTIFICATIONS, and PUBLIC PAPERS, of this Government.
By Order,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 2d July, 1855.
No. 38.
GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. The subjoined Correspondence relative to the Recon- struction of the Legislative Council, is this day published for general information, according to Notification No. 35, of 26th ultimno.
By order,
W. T. BRIDGES, Acting Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 2d March, 1857.
No. 110. Legislative.
Government OFFICES, VICTORIA,
HONGKONG, 2d August, 1855. MY LORD, I have to acknowledge your Lordship's Despatch No. 9, dated 23d May, on the subject of the Government of this colony.
Having communicated my views to the Colonial Secretary, and discussed with him on various occasions the propriety of recon- structing the Legislative Council, with reference to the altered con- dition and growing prosperity of this colony, I have now the honour to submit, for your Lordship's consideration, a revised minute, which contains the outlines of what appears to me a safe and satisfactory scheme of Legislative Reform. Tinstructed the Colonial Secretary to submit the same to the Lieutenant-Governor, and forward copy of a letter to me which conveys his approval of the project.
Your Lordship will observe by my Despatch No. 108, dated 30th ultimo, that we do not find it necessary to avail ourselves of the Parliamentary Grant in aid, as proposed in the Estimates for the year 1855-56; and I have every reason to hope, not only that the colony will supply itself with adequate funds to meet the needful expendi- ture, but that we shall be able, without difficulty or pressure upon the inhabitants, to accomplish many important objects, which, while they benefit the people, will ultimately be productive to the Trea-
sury.
I propose to add six new Members, 3 Official and 3 Non-official, to the present number of the Legislative Council. I think the num- ber thirteen sufficient for the purposes of discussion, and for the acquisition of all that information which is desirable for the ends of Legislation; and that the proportion of 8 Official to 5 Non-official Members, is quite as great a majority as Her Majesty's Government is entitled to nominate in a (now) self-supporting colony.
W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.
vered to Colonel Caine.-I have the honour to be, with the highest respect, Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant,
JOHN BOWRING, The Right Honorable Lord JOHN RUSSELL, M. P., &c., &c., &c. Inclosure 1,—Despatch 110.
REVISED MINUTE ON THE RECONSTURCTION
OF THE COUNCILS.
It has long been generally apparent, that both the Legislative and Executive Councils in this colony require reconstruction; and the time is arrived when the necessary steps may be conveniently and usefully taken for the proper arrangement of them.
2. To accomplish this object, it will be requisite, not to interfere with the Charter of the colony, but simply to propose alterations in the Queen's Instructions to the Governor, following the prece dent which was adopted on the occasion of the admission of two Unofficial Members to the Legislative Council.
3. Premising thus much, I would suggest the following mea- sures --
4. The Executive Council to be composed of,— His Excellency The Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney General, the Officer in Command of the Troops, the Colonial Treasurer.
5. The Legislative Council of,-
His Excellency The Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Chief Justice, the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney General, the Colonial Treasurer, the Surveyor General, the Chief Magistrate of Police, and Five (5) Unofficial Members.
6. In the event of the absence or disqualification of any of the Officials above mentioned, it shall be in the power of the Governor to nominate to the vacant seat.
7. The Five Unofficial Members to be elected triennially from the general body of Registered Holders of Land, leased from the Crown, in the colony, all five being bona fide British Subjects, and three at least Justices of the Peace for the colony; but none of the five Unofficial Members shall be elected from persons holding office in the colony.
8. The Electoral Body to consist of all Registered Holders of an undivided Lot of Land under Crown Lease, of the yearly Rental of £10 and upwards.
9. An Electoral Roll or List of those qualified to vote to be annually prepared by the Sheriff, in communication with the Surveyor General; and this list to be published in the Government Gazette Three Months at least before the General Election.
10. The Sheriff to entertain and record all applications and objections made to him on the subject, and to forward the same to the Colonial Secretary One Month before the General Election.
12. The List so revised to be passed by the Executive Council, and published in the Gazette at least Ten days before the General Election.
I have felt some hesitation as to the proposal of confining the choice of the constituents to two Members, who are not necessarily Justices of the Peace; but considering Her Majesty's Government 11. The Colonial Secretary to lay this List, with such appica- decided that the Non-official Members now belonging to the Legislations and objections, before the Executive Council, who shall revise tive Council should be chosen from the bench of Magistrates, I have the List, and decide on the applications and objections. thought it desirable to continue the recognition of the principle to the extent proposed by the minute. But I hold it of paramount importance, for the satisfaction of the community, and for the inte- rests of good Government, that the Five Non-official Members should not be selected from persons holding office in the colony.
The 20th clause, giving to a Consul the right of being present 9 Summons from the Governor, when questions are to be discussed affecting the Queen's subjects settled in China, is I think likely to be of great assistance to the Legislative Council.
As the Estimates for next year will be sent home by the present Mail, there would be great advantage in having the reconstruction of the Legislative Council determined before preparing the budgets for 1856-57.
Though I have not introduced the subject of publicity of debate into these suggestions, the advantages of such publicity immensely preponderate in my mind over any benefits to result from secret discussion.
In conformity with your Lordship's Instructions, an official copy of Sir George Grey's Despatch of 28th. April last, No. 7, was deli
13. The Election shall take place every third year, during the last week in March, the day to be named by the Sherif, and announced by Public Notice in the Gazetie.
14. The Election shall be conducted by the Sheriff in such place as shall be directed by the Executive Council.
15. The Sheriff shall require from each voter the oath of allegiance, and, if required by an Elector, the oath against bribery, before receiving and recording the suffrage of such voter.
16. The Five Members returned shall sit for Three years, and in the event of a vacauey occurring during this period, it shall be in the discretion of the Governor to direct that such vacancy be filled by Election in the prescribed manner, or be left unfilled for the remaining period of the Three years.
17. The Warrant for each Election shall be signed by the Governor, sealed with the seal of the colony, and addressed to the Sherid