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-China-Union) Telegraph Company, I have now the honour to forward, for Your Lordship's information, an extract from a local newspaper, containing a substantially accurate daily report of the proceedings of the Legislative Council of Hongkong on the 20th instant.
2. It will be seen that Mr. F. B. Johnson, one of the two Unofficial Members of the existing Council, moved, in pursuance of notice of 21 Jul 1883 "It will be recollected that the Queen's Instructions now in force provide that there shall be four Unofficial members in the Council; but that in consequence of special instructions from the Colonial Office
notice, that the Governor should be requested to lay on the table copies of correspondence between the Colonial Secretary and the Chamber of Commerce relative to the application of the Canton-Hongkong We Hop Telegraph Co to lay a cable across the harbour". The speeches of Mr. Johnson, and of M. Ryrie, the only other Unofficial member, reflect accurately
Office, two of those so-called "Unofficial places, have been filled up by paid officials, viz: the Surveyor-General (MW Price), and the Registrar General (M. Stewart); a proceeding, which (as I have explained in my despatch N. 62 of the 14th May ultimo), was unnecessary for the presumed object of keeping the absolute control of the Council in the hands of the Secretary of State, through the Governor; and which has caused great and general dissatisfaction in this community.