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and I have the honour to report that I have, subject to Your Majesty's approval, appointed
to the vacant seat in Council, Mr. John Bell Irving, who has become the senior partner in the Firm of Jardine, Matheson, and Company, through the departure for England of Mr. Keswick. It
seems to have been the custom since Hong Kong was a Colony for the Senior Partner in this, the largest Mercantile Firm in China, to have a seat in the Legislative Council, and I have followed this tradition, and also acted with the advice of the Judges and the Members of the Executive Council in making this appointment. There must be a special meeting of this Council before the end of this month to renew the French Mail Steamer Ordinance No. 14 of 1885, and to pass an Ordinance giving a similar status to the German Mail Steamers, the instructions respecting which only reached me after the close