The
Daily Press.
HONGKONG, APRIL 5TH, 1895.
C. O.
14530
Nec Wer 19 095,
HONGKONG LUGISIATIVE COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Legistative Council was held yesterday afternoon. Present :--
His Excelianoy the Governor, Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, K.O.M.G.
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Snorstary.
Hon. A. J. LEACH, Acting Attorney-Genera}. Hon. F. A. CoOPER, Director of Public Works. Hon. A. M. THOMPSON, Acting Colonial 'Treasurer,
Hon. R. M. RUMSEY, Harbour Master.
Hou. C. P. CHATER.
Hon. Ho KAL.
Hon. J. J. KESWICK,
Hon. E. E. BELILIOS C.M.G.
Hon. A. MCCONACHE.
Mr. A. Seth Clerk of Councils.
FINANCIAL BUSINESS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid upon the table the report of the proceeding of the Finance Committee bald on 28th March; and Financial miunta No. 10 was referred to the Finance Com- mittee.
THE SANITARY BY-LAWS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I have to move that an additional by-law nade under Section 13 of Ordinance 15 of 1894 be approved by this Conncil. The Council will remember at the last meeting but one a number of by-laws made under this section were approved by this Coau. cil. Among those by-liws there was one which did not then meet with the approval of the Council and it was decided that it should be re- forred back to the Sanitary Board for recon- sideration. The Sanitary Board bas sidered the by-law and it is now transmitted for the approval of this Commoil in a form which, I trast, will meet with the approval of all members of the Council.
recon-
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-1 beg to second that.
Hou. C. P. CHATER-I am well satisfied with the by-law as it now stands.
Carried.
AN ORDINA‡CE REPEALED. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to more the first reading of a Bill entitled an Or- dinance to repeal Ordinance No. 1 of 1864 en- titled "An Ordinance to provide for conversion of British Carreooy it all payments by or fo the Government," The object of the Bill is to remove from the stainte book this Ordinance which relatus to the conversion of British ourrency, and which has practi- cally become a dead letter by reason of the proclamation which was published in the Gazette ou Saturday last. The proclamation, in terms, repeals this Ordisance, but it is considered better that the legislature which passed that Ordinance should also repaal it. I beg to move the first reading.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-- beg to second. Bill read a first time.
A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE.
The AeriNG ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I have to wove the sec nd reading of the Immigration Or. dinance. I stated on the last vecasion that cor- tuin amendments had been proposed by the Sani- tary Board, and that they had not then received the consideration they deserved, and I thought it would be desirable that they should be more fully considered before the Bill was read a second time, The amendments proposed have been generally accepted by the Government, and they are in corporated in the draft Bill before the Council to-day. The object of the Bill is, as I bave stated. to enable the Governor in Connoil to pro- hibit the immigration of Chinese from any in- fected place where the bubonic plagne prevails or exists. The Sanitary Board has recoin- monded the extension of this to cholera, smallpox, and such other serious diseases which may be notified in the Gazette, and probably that extension, if the Bill is passed, will meet with the general approvà of the Council There are other small details and amendments they propose, but there is one more substantial amend- ment. They propose that the Governor should not only have the power to prohibit the impor- tation of Chinese by sea, but by land also That also has also been adopted in the Bill. The pre- vention of plague is all important, not only to the welfare of the colony, but to the trade of
be
the tem-
the port. If the general impression be true the plagne came here, or was imported here last year, and did not, as it were, grow in the place, and therefore some power ought to be conferred upon the Governor to restrict the immigration, by land or by sea, of those who are likely to import it, or whose luggage and clothing might
bere brought
with
of gernis disease in it. It might possibly porarily prove hard or injurious to ship- owners and traders in the colony; but you will ses from the Bill that this is only a temporary measure; it 18 not to be a permanent measure The restriction is to last for such time as may be fixed by the Governor in Council. Quarantine, we are told by medical officers, to be really effectual, must be complete, that quarantine under local circumstances, and with the many possibilities of evading it, cannot be effectual as it is carried out in this colony. Therefore it is necessary for the Governor to come to Council for larger power of restriction, which is the object of this Bill. I think hon. members will agree with this. I believe the senior unofficial addition or member wishes to make some alteration in a clause of the Bill, but it is not probable that the Governor in Conneil des. would issue proclamation of this cription unless there is very serious reason to believe that the introduction of the plague, or other disease such as is mentioned, is likely. I think the Governor in Coano‹ must be given the credit for taking the greatest consideration and the deepest care in passing the proclamation. I believe the bon. the senior unofficial member wishes in some way, before the proclamation is put in forca, that it should come before a meeting of the Legislative Council. He can i easily adapt that clause, or introduce words into the clause which will prevent the proclamation coming into effoot hastily. There mast, how. ever, always be some delay. I have no doubt that it will receive avery consideration when the Bill comes before Committee. With these remarks 1 beg to move the second reading of the Bill. The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. Bill read a second time, and Council went into Committee. On the reading the first clause,
B
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS said-This is a matter which affects especially the shipping interests, and it will be wise, I think, to insert after the word Governor, in the Legislative Council;" so that the line will read "Governor in the Legislative Council." I am sure all-uuofficial members hve been at the beck and call of your Excellency, and it we were asked to assemble, even if the notice wasonly an hour's notice, we were never reluctant to come here; and I think it will be wise if we are allowed an opportunity to express an opinion. in the event of the necessity to prohibit or re- gulate immigration.
Bon. C. P. CRATER-The Acting Attorney- General informed us a little while ago that the unofficial melabers were anxions to introduce a few words into the clause which bas just been read. The unfeial members met at a meeting called this forenoon at the request of my hou. friend opposite, and consequently it is he who moves the amendmout. The object, sir, in trying to have this proclamation issued by the advice of the Legistative Council, and not the Governor in Counell, is to strengthen your Freellenoy'a bands. The clause reads as follows-" Whenever the Governor in Council shall be satisfied that the bubonic plagae, obolera, small-por," &e. The Governor inCouncil is the Governor in Executiva Council, whereas the amendment proposed by my hon. friend opposite is that the words shall be altered to "Governor in Legislativo Council," which includes all your own officials and the representatives of the public in the Thero. the unofficial members. ¡ shape of
fore, I think, as far as your Excellency is coa. cerned, it would strengthen your Excellency's hand to have the proclamation issued by the Legislative Council. I have vary great pleasure in seconding the amendment Probably the wording of it might not be quite as proposed by the bou. member, but the Attorney-General may put it in proper form. I suggest, "by the. advice or recommendation of the Legislative Couveil."
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-The meaning of Governor in Council is the Governor fu Executive Connoil.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-With regard to the proposed amendment, it appears to me to be undesirable. It has bean stated clearly that tha Governor in Counoil would issue no pro- clamation unless satisfied that these diseases are in existence, and that the proclamation is neces- sary. The hon. the unofficial member said that the object of the amendment was to strengthen the Governor's hand. I really fail to see Low calling together an assembly of the Legisla
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