Enclosure
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, February 16th, 1900.
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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
Yesterday afternoon a meeting of the Hong- kong Legislative Council was held in the Council Chamber at the Government Offices, there being prosent :---
His EXCELLENCY the Governor (Sir Henry Blake, .C.M.G.).
His EXCELLENCY Major-General) GASCOIGNE C.M.4. (Commanding the Troops).
Hon. F. H. Mar, U.M.G. (Acting Colonial Secretary).
Hon. W. MEIGH GOODMAN (Attorney-Gen- eral).
Hon. R. MURRAY RUMSEY (Harbour Master). Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer). Hon. R. D. ORMSBY (Director of Public Works).
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G. Hon. Dr. Ho KAI.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHHAD,
Hon. E. E. BELILIOS, C.M.G.
Hon. WEI A YUK.
Hon J. J. KESWICK.
Hon'ble A. W. BERWIN,
Mr. R. F. Jonstor (Acling Clerk of Coun cils.)
A NEW MEMBER.
The oath was administered to Mr. A. W. BEEWIN ou his taking his seat as a member of the Council.
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THE COLONY'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE
SOUTH AFRICAN RELIEF FUND.
A VOTE OF $50,000.
The Acting COLONIAL SECRETARY-I rise to more that the orilers of the day be set aside, and
That this Council devote the sum of $50,000 as a contribution towards the South African War Fund at present being raised by the Lord Mayor of London, and that the distribution and allocation of the said sum be left wholly to the discretion of the administrators of the fund."
I thinks, sir, that this motion will receive the mordial support of the bon'ble members of the Council, inasmuch I believe, that the original suggestion that some such vote might he asked for in this Connell emanated from the senior unofcial metaber, who has I believed consulted with his colleagues. I am sure that this rote will be endorsed by the community, who have already so generously subscribed to one of the special funds-to the Sailors and Soldiers Fund, which is also under the care of the Lord Mayor. (Hear, hour).
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded:
The Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G. — I have much pleasure in supporting the r solution, and in doing so, I may state that at a time like this when our gallant troops are freely shedding their blood, and wheu half the families of the United Kingdom and mem bers of those in the Colonies are soudiug out some representatire to take part in the straggle for supremacy in South Africa, Hongkong mast Its not be backward in sending assistance. little quota of volunteers freely offered was not needed, it is true, but we can and we will contri- bute of our substance in helping the families of those who are lightig vat our cause on the African veldt. This vote, as the Hon'ble the Colonial Secretary has said, will have the cor- dial approval of my nofcial colleagues and I am sure, such will be sudorsed by.The official members of Council, and by the whole com. munity. (Applause).
The
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Rec
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The Hon'ble Dг. do KAI-I beg to support the vote which has been proposed and secondet. At the present emergency in South Africs I think it is quite right that we should do some. "thing to show our actual sympathy and prac
tical support. This rote will show ths British Government that we in Hongkong are not ba- hind in expressing our feelings in this substau- tial way.
I am glad to be able to say that not only the British" but the Anglo-Chinese com rounity of this colony are well to the frout in giving practical expression to their sympathy. Therefore I have great pleasure in supporting the resolution. (Applause.)
The Hon'ble E. R. Belirios, C.M.G.-The suggestion my colleague and senior unofficial member of the Council has made is que that will And general approbation in this colony. What ho proposes this colony should do has been done in the Straits Settlements, and 1 am of opinion that thongh the contribution is a large one the colony can afford it. If the money is to be fairly dis- tributed I fear it will be needed, Tho difficinities in the path of our brave soldiers aro so excoedingly great, owing to the formation of the country and the mobile character of the enemy's forces, enabling them to move with grost rapidity and occupy strategic positious that we have only too much reason to believe that thousands of valuable lives will be sacri- ficed before peace is attained. Sosing this to be the prospect it behores ug to encourage our soldiers and to stimulate others to joiu the ranks, and show that the nation in the event of the father falling in the dis- charge of his duty to his country we will at once protect his wife and little ones, At any rate I am sure of this that the thought that the dear ones at home will be safely provided for will lift a load from the minds of the sick and dying soldier. Therefore I have great pleasure in supporting this motion.
H EXCELLENCP the GOVERNOR --There are two motious before the Council. The first is that the Orders of the Day he set asido to allow of the second motion being put,
This was agreed to.
His EXCELLANCY the GOVERNOR-Now with regard to the motion that you have heard read I think it caly fair that the public should know that the generosity of the Quofficial members representing various sections of this community has gone even beyond the handsome vote of $50,000. The first proposal made to mo by the senior unofficial member, with I he lieve the concurrence of his colleagues, was that this Council should rote a sum equal to the entire sum subscribed by the colony for this purpose. That suni, as you Art aware, has reached $98.000; Still I need hardly. say I was obliged to ask for the con- enrrance of the Secretary of State in this matter, and on thinkjug it over I came to the conclusion that this vote of $50,000 would be very handsome indend. I suggested that to the Secretary of State, who however an- thorised a vote of $30.000. I replied that the unofficial members of this Council would be very much disppointed if they were not permitted to vote $50,00), to which the Seorotary of State then gave his saturity. I think it well that the public should know that the unofficial members of this Councial did not limit their generosity to the very unificient amount now to be voted but were quite prepared to vote a sum equal to that provided by all sectious of the British and Chinese communities of this Colony. You will understand that the amount of money subscribed by the colony up to the present has been devoted exclusively to one bud-the Soldiors and Saflors. Families' Association branch of the Relief Fund. The Lord Ma- yor has pointed out that there are other funds. That particular fand has boon very i well looked aftor in England and elsewhere, à and there are other fauls which equally call. for assistance. Ho sugests in case of further! contributions which may be sout that it should be left to the discretăù of the Lord Mayor to devote it to any partiendar fuwd that nous in! most need of assistance, Therefore it will bot left to the discretion of the Lord Mayor and * bis Committee to devote the money to whet purpose he thinks necessary. (Applause).
The motion was then carried unanimously,
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