C. C
14530
The Daily Dress
Red'
HONGKONG, MARCH 21ST. 1895. REG 19 UG 95)
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Legislative Council was held
Present:- yesterday afternoon.
His xcellency the Governor, Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.
Hou. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Acting Colonial Secretary.
Hon. A. G. LACH, Acting Attorney-General. Hoa A. M. THOMPSON, Acting Colonial Treasurer.
Hou. F. A. COOPER, Director of Public Works. Hon. R. M. RUMSEY, Harbour Master.
Hon. C. P CHATER.
Hon. Ho KAL
Hou, J. J. KESWICK.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G.
Hon. A. MCC NACHIE.
Mr. A. Seth, Clerk of Councils.
MINUTES,
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The minutes of the last meeting were read and passed.
THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT:
WIPLANATION
BY THE GOVERNOR. HIS EXCELLENCY-Before we proceed with the orders of the day I wish to make a few remarke in reference to the paper laid upon the table at the last meeting From the statement of re- veous and expenditure it will be seau that the balance in band was $451,000, and several com- ments have been made in reference in these figures and in connection with the statement I made on 29th November that the balance in hand was $600.000. It bue beon inferred that the Go- vernment wished to put a good face on the re- venue in reference to the exchange compensation.; My statement has also been called "a rhetorical flourish." I wish to state that. I made that state- ment in thoroughly good faith, sud I am anre all 'members of the Council will agree with me when I say so. (Applause) ke statement was re posted by the Acting Colonial Secretary, and in justice to ourselves 1 ongüt to say that we were "distinctly informed that the batanes in hand was $620,862. I am very sorry the mistake occurred, I have no desire to throw blame upon au absent ofoer, and I am very gli o say that the ro- | venue of the current year is likely to be an a more satisfactory scale. (Applause.)
THE SANITARY BAND BY-LAWS. The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARI-1 bave the bonour to move the approval of certain by. lawe made by the Sanitary Board nuder Section 13 of Ordinans. 15 of 1894. It will be remem- bered that at the last meeting of the Council, at the request of the nuofficial member opposite (Hos. J J. Keswick), the consideration of the question of approval of the by-laws was post- poned. Since that meeting certain amendments have been suggested by the unofficial members with regard to by-laws Nos. 3 4. 5, 18, 19, 20, 22. 27. 3. The amendments anggested by th › unofficial members were referred to the Sanitar. Board for its consideration, and a letter has been received to-day from the Sanitary Board transmitting the by-laws, which were considered, amended, and made by the Board at a meeting hold yesterday afternoon. I think the Sanitary Board is to be pengratulated upon the prompt attention which it gave to this matter. I may say that the Sanitary Board has practically pass d all the mendments sug rested by the unofficial members with the exception of by-law 31-that is by law of the original by-laws, and 31 in the by-laws Jas last sent up by the Sanitary Board. Although they have not ace spted it in its entirely, as the amsudment proposed by the unofficial members amounted to its deletion, they have modified it and confined it to the state of things when au epidemic of bubonic plague, smallpox, cholera, or such like diseases exists in the colony. I trast that the by-laws will be approved without delay, and will receive theconsent of this Council
The
ACTING ATTORNSY-GENERAL-Iu seconding the resolation I may say that the Sanitary Board has worked with extreme expedi- tion becanae ant only have its members hid to consider thoamendruouts proposed by the unofficial members. but they had to make other amendments also in regard to the by laws. The has. mem- bar then referred to a misprint in by-law 18. which was corrooted without reference to the Sanitary Board.
Hon. C. P. HATER-I beg to say that the altered by laws wore received by me only during luncheon to day, and ou carefully going throngh them I obsered the clause to which the hon. the Acting Colonial Secretary has spoken, namely, clause 31. There is very little differeues between what the Sanitary Board wants and what we. have; the nuofiest members. would like to therefore I would ask your Excellency, as it is urgent that the by-laws should be passed, that they be pissed with the excuption of by-law 31, which might be referred to the Board for further consideration.
BIS EXCELLENCY-The question is that clause 31 be referred back to the Sanitary Board, and I ask the Council to approve of the others.
The HARBOUR MASTER-The second sub- section of section 2 states that "the material to be used for covering the floors and yards. situated on any upper for." I do not know whether that is a mistake. Can you have a yard on the upper floor P
Hon. Ho KAI-Certainly.
HIS EXCELLENCY-It is understood that the by-laws, excluding 31, are approved.
By-laws approved.
2
THE SUE OF BANK NOTES IN THE COLONY. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I bare the honour to bring before your attentiou
is
on the not to-day a subject which orders of the day, and that subject is Bill to regulate the issue of bank notes in the colony. No notice having been given of the introduction of the Bill it will be necessary, in order that it may be introduced to-day, that I should more the gasponsion of the standing orders. The Bill has been sent out and drafted by the Secretary of State with orders to pass it without delay, and it is necessary to put it though all its stages to-day in order that there may be no time to evade or attempt to grada its provisions. It is therefore necessary for me to move the suspension of the standing orders.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to secoad the motion
Carried nemt, con,
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I have to more the first reading of an Ordinance to regu Bate the issue of bank uotes in the colony. The object of the Ordinance is to prevent suy bask 'from making, issuing, or circulating any bank notes without the sanction of one of Her Ma- jesty's principal Secretaries of State. It does ot attempt to regulate, and it exem As from its chief provisions, the rights of banks possng4ARĪ under Royal Charter er Colonial Ordinanco. ¡ The Ordinance, as I have romarked before, is introduced by express directions of that
The Secretary of State for the Colonies. regulation of the circulation and the issue | of paper money by bankers is an undoubted in Eag- prerogative of the Crown, and land it s regulated. I think, by the Bank Charter Act of 1844. But although the Royal Instructions to this colony and the Colonial Regulations point very clearly to the prohibifivo of the issue of bank notes without the pravions sanction of the Secretary of State or without a Charter or Ordinanes having been obtained. hitherto there has been no statate law or enactment prohibiting the issue of bank notes in this colony, That fact was brought to the attention of the Secretary of State, and he has accordingly directed that this Ordinance be passed. The Ordinance briefly provid-s that at some date to be fixed-that is from the passing of this Ordinance or from such day as may be put in the Ordinance--no bank is to make, issue, or circulate bank notes payable to bearer on demand without the sanotion one of Her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State. The Ordinance does not affect bank notes which are in circulation on that day. That will be Alled in in Committee as this day, 20th Marul. There is also a provision in the Ordinsure 80- abling the Colonial Treasurer to requira banks to furnish him with a statement of the number of bank notes in issue or circulation on 20th March this year in order that notes issued afterwards may be identified from notes issued prior to the pussing of this Ordinanca. I do not think it will be necessary for me either ou the second or third reading to make any farther remarks. The object is a very simple on; it is to giro effent to what had always been the intention of the Colonial Office. I have to move the first reading.
of
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-1 beg to second that.
Bill read the first and second time and com. mitted.
Hou, Ho KAI-Do the words "Bank Notes" include notes issued by Chinese bankers?
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