CO129-006 - Sir John Davis - 1844 — Page 88

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

70777

17.9

Arriving at Hong Kong

Victoria Harbouring 13 May 1844

Governor

Lord Stanley

Reporting arrival in Colony.—Ship "Unicorn" on passage to be admitted.—Exception.—Legislative Council's constitution with T. Shelley as Senator.—Appointment of officers and their number.

I have received your Despatch dated the 4th Feb 1844, L. 4, in which you have appointed Five Public Officers to be members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. I cannot explain why the draft despatch I have just cancelled has been so long delayed. I have found it with some other Papers and Four Public Officers to be members of the Executive Council. I suppose it has been concealed. It has been laid aside.

I find no reason to differ from your opinion that none but official persons or, for the present, sit in either of the Councils. But I cannot concur with you in thinking Royal Instructions authorized the appointment of these members. The delay in doing so was rather unfortunate.

In addition to this matter, there were Official persons whose general attendance could be placed in the channel of Patronage that were in a state of limitation and ambiguity. The Royal Instructions had, with equal certainty, conclusions. Under the peculiar circumstances of the place, it was thought that each of the Councils should comprise the smallest possible number of members and the selection of that small number was essential to the efficiency of anything that might be done as effectively as possible and as unshackled as could be.

The words "effecting the Legislative Council" are to be regarded with great care, but there should be free discussion.

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70777 17.9 Arriving at Hong Kong Victoria Harbouring 13 May 1844 Governor Lord Stanley Reporting arrival in Colony.—Ship "Unicorn" on passage to be admitted.—Exception.—Legislative Council's constitution with T. Shelley as Senator.—Appointment of officers and their number. I have received your Despatch dated the 4th Feb 1844, L. 4, in which you have appointed Five Public Officers to be members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. I cannot explain why the draft despatch I have just cancelled has been so long delayed. I have found it with some other Papers and Four Public Officers to be members of the Executive Council. I suppose it has been concealed. It has been laid aside. I find no reason to differ from your opinion that none but official persons or, for the present, sit in either of the Councils. But I cannot concur with you in thinking Royal Instructions authorized the appointment of these members. The delay in doing so was rather unfortunate. In addition to this matter, there were Official persons whose general attendance could be placed in the channel of Patronage that were in a state of limitation and ambiguity. The Royal Instructions had, with equal certainty, conclusions. Under the peculiar circumstances of the place, it was thought that each of the Councils should comprise the smallest possible number of members and the selection of that small number was essential to the efficiency of anything that might be done as effectively as possible and as unshackled as could be. The words "effecting the Legislative Council" are to be regarded with great care, but there should be free discussion.
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70777 17.9 greichen be Hy " X H X Y XIA 521- Victoria Houghing 13. May 1844 Governon t Lord Stanley Reporting arrival in Colony-shunt. Unimarka on purines to be adrnictled- Excention a begislative councils with Thelley as sendator, constitution of -tion of office - appointment of M? a their number. ~ Es fan C Jon Darri Dr. Stohen a 14671 Kong 20.76 mag I have 203? 1844 that you Rec Downing 86 food. 3 Feb 10:45 your Def: dated the 184 L. 4, in which you have appointed Five Publis cannot explain why the draft Offeries to la dumbers of the despilation I have just Cancil of Sony Kong has been so long delayed . I have, found it with some other Papers and Four Public to the Thember of the Excentive Officers be of. I suffore it has been concealed It have been concealed Council. I find no reason to diffent from dinice the commencement was written your opinion that none but official and laid aside. شگاه Y persons or, for the present, sit in either that th of the Councils. But I cannot concus with you in thinking Royal ductinctions authonged the Ashrit The delay in rather unfortune f man than these members in aether. The delay in rather unfortune. The words affear to me to unfore that is the sobrance cries we abbould b In addition to this matter 25. le cherens fure there Official pers those fo ebral tendance the pentect sabana- could be placed. of Patronage that were in a میرم in the chan limitation anambiquocl . The aforel to the same deriges of there the Rozel Pentinations had, with equal certaint conclusions. Under the my fambiar circumstances of the place & was thought that each of the Connals should comfrize the smallest possible number of members and the sobation of that mall number به گر was intential to the in order that hei 0252 anthing might be as effectives as possible and as unfettend as w? be Schactions to the the ufori, Ronal Suctuation. that tin connoils shall con it of The werde erfecting the Lepiletines Can- thee to be trambers sit Well regard title halt "but th Free d
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70777

17.9

greichen be

Hy

" X H X Y XIA

521-

Victoria Houghing 13. May 1844

Governon

t

Lord Stanley

Reporting arrival in

Colony-shunt.

Unimarka on purines to be adrnictled- Excention a begislative councils with Thelley as sendator, constitution of -tion of office - appointment of M?

a their number.

~

Es fan

C

Jon Darri

Dr. Stohen

a

14671 Kong

20.76

mag

I have 203?

1844

that you

Rec

Downing

86

food. 3 Feb 10:45

your Def: dated the 184

L. 4, in which you have appointed

Five Publis

cannot explain why the draft Offeries to la dumbers of the despilation I have just Cancil of Sony Kong

has been so long delayed . I have,

found it with some other Papers

and Four Public

to the Thember of the Excentive

Officers be

of. I suffore it has been concealed

It have been concealed Council. I find

no reason to diffent from

dinice the commencement was written your opinion that none but official

and laid aside.

شگاه

Y

persons or, for the present, sit in

either

that th

of the Councils. But I cannot concus with you in thinking Royal ductinctions authonged the Ashrit

The delay in rather unfortune f man than these members in aether. The delay in rather unfortune. The words affear to me to unfore that

is the sobrance cries we

abbould b

In addition to this matter

25. le cherens fure there Official pers those fo ebral tendance the pentect sabana- could be placed.

of Patronage

that were in a

میرم

in the chan

limitation anambiquocl . The aforel

to the same

deriges of there the Rozel Pentinations had, with equal certaint conclusions. Under the my fambiar circumstances of the place & was thought that each of the Connals should comfrize the smallest possible number

of members and the sobation of that

mall number

به گر

was intential to the

in order that hei

0252

anthing might be as effectives as possible and as unfettend as w? be

Schactions to the the ufori,

Ronal Suctuation.

that tin connoils shall con it of

The werde erfecting the Lepiletines Can-

thee

to be trambers sit Well regard title

halt

"but th

Free d

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