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arrative showing what is called land specu- lation; on the contrary, it shows that the com. mercial wants of the Colony have been in- creasing, that the necessity of providing more godowns has been felt by the merchants, and that Our manufactures are increasing, and you will notice, and I am happy to notice, that not only has there been an increase of enterprise and pros- perity on the part of the foreign community, but also on the part of the Chinese. Some time ago I observed, in referring to the progress of India, that the Secretary of State for India, Lord Har- tington, looked forward to the time when cer- tain public works in India would be under. taken by private enterprise. When you con- sider what is done by the survey Department in this Colony, you cannot but notice how small the amount really is which we lay out in public works as compared with what may be done by private enterprise and capital when the Colony is really prosperous. sir Hercules Robinson en- tertained the scheme of forming a Praya Wall at Kowloon and wharves running from it out into deep water so that steamers and ships could go alongside. The expense was considerable. The 1 scheme was contemplated by the Government, but it was felt the time had not come for the go- vernment to undertake it. Now it is being under- taken, not by the Government, but by private enterprise, and I am sure you will agree with me that nothing can be more healthy, as a sign of our prosperity, than that works of this kind should be undertaken, not by the Survey Departinent but by private enterprise. The Government could hardly afford to lay out a million dollars on a work of that kind. Of course the sugar refinery to which I have referred is one that belongs to the domain of private enterprise. But it is manifest that whatever you may say with re- spect to the prosperity of the Colony as shown by the revenue returns, by the general com. mercial activity of the Colony, by the fortunate position of the Colony with regard to the diminution of crime and the greater comfort and case of every one as regards the protection of life and property-whatever indications of prosperity may be seen, in that it is also one that deserves congratulation that, in the history of Hongkong, there never was a time when there was more enterprise among all classes of the community, Europeans as well as Chinese. And there is one class of enterprise, an intellectual en- terprise, to which I have great pleasure in refer- ring. I myself have the honour of belonging to the Inns of Court in London. I passed an ex- amination in Lincoln's lap. some of my learned friends who are present know that at those ex- aminations there are young men from Oxford and Cambridge, London University and King's Col lege, and the great competition is for the student- ships or scholarships given at Lincolns' Inn. Last year a young man born under the British flag in this Colony succeeded at that examination in de- feating his competitors from Oxford and Cam- bridge, from London University and from the Scotch and Irish Universities, and in three of the subjects of examination he obtained first place. That is Mr. Ho Kai, a gentleman born in this Co- lony. I think it is a matter we may all congratulate ourselves upon and that young gentleman, who has been called to the bar will arrive, I think, this month in the Colony, and I am sure you will all join with me in welcoming him. My attention has been called by the Chinese inhabitants of the Colony to one or two things in which they are especially interested, and I have had under my consideration a scheme they have put before me by which wealthy Chinese in this Colony might have an opportunity afforded them of putting aside a certain portion of the money they make, investing it in such a way as to benefit their descendants and also to benefit the Colony. I may briefly say it is a system of forming a species of trust property which may be administered by a contain number of the Chinese community, perhaps those who under one of our Ordinances conduct the affairs of the Tung Wah Hospital, and to that body of Chinese will be given from time to time considerable sums by wealthy Chinese which will be invested by them, a cer- tain portion, say seven-tenths, to be appropriated so as to benefit the descendants of the donors by giving them education, and in other ways, the remaining three-tenths to be devoted to the
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public interests of the Colony in general A scheme of that kind, carefully elaborated, bas been recommended to me by what I am justified in describing as the Chinese community of the Colony. They have put it before me. I am dis- posed to give it the most favourable consideration, and I mention it now with satisfaction because it is a further indication of the real progress of Hongkong. As long as these gentlemen, who, as you know, now represent the wealthiest rate- payers in the community, as long as they desire to establish themselves and their desendants in the Colony for ever, so long we have a guarantee for loyalty and good order. On the whole, gen- tlemen, in opening the Legislative session for 1882 I think we can all look forward, without anxiety, not only to the present year, but to the continued prosperity of the Colony.
Hon. F. B. JoHNSON-Will your Excellency inform me if I shall now be in order?
His EXCELLENCY--No. We must adhere to the Order Book.
OPIUM ORDINANCE.
His EXCELLENCY moved the first reading of "An Ordinance to Amend the Opium Ordinance No. 2 of 1858." He explained that it was intro- duced by direction of the secretary of State, its object being the protection of prepared opium in transitu through the Colony.
VEHICLES ORDINANCE.
His EXCELLENCY moved the first reading of "An Ordinance to amend the Vehicles Ordi- nance, No. 6 of 1863."
NATURALIZATION.
His EXCELLENCY moved the first reading of Bills for the naturalization of Lai shun Ting, Chan Teng Cho Ng Li Hùng Yau Chong Peng and Chan Man Wing.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER said he trusted that before these Ordinances were passed schedules would be attached describing who the gentlemen were to whom they referred. In other cases it had been merely the naturalization of a name. In Dr. Eitel's case they knew who was intended from the preamble, but with regard to the other bills which had been passed he had in his employ some gentlemen who might claim them, as their names corresponded with the naturalization Ordinances, and there was nothing to show who was naturalized.
His EXCELLENCY said he thought the sugges- tion a good one.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the form adopted with reference to the Ordinance was one adopted in another Colony where it had been in force for years, one of the few Colonies in which it was necessary to proceed by legislation in cases of individual naturalization, and it was a form which, as His Excellency was aware, had received the assent of Her Majesty's Government, and although there might be a schedule he did not think it would be at all proper to attach such a schedule.
His EXCELLENCY said that although it might not be necessary to attach such a schedule be thought the information asked for might be given. The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER said the description might be given in the preamble.
Hon. No CHOY said the age should certainly be given.
The Bills were read a first time.
THE TRAMWAY RILL The ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE, Chairman of the Special Conumittee on the Tramway Bill, pre- sented the report of the Committee.
Hon. E. R. RELILIOS-There is a small mat- ter which requires consideration. It has occured to me, and I should fail in my duty if I omitted to mention it. I stated it at our Coinmittee meet- ings, but was directed by my honourable friend the Chainman to bring it forward at this assein- bly. We are all aware that hitherto, whenever it has been found necessary to improve thorough- fares, the level of the roads has been raised at the discretion of the Surveyor-General. At the examination ofthis officer at a meeting of the Tram. ways Bill Committee it was elicited that in certaiu cases when roads happened to have been higher than the pavement of houses on either side, and when it was so desired by the owners, the com- pounds of such houses were raised equally with the new roads, but the surveyor-General told us that no compensation was demanded and none was granted. I say it is fortunate for the taxpayers that no such questions have been raised as yet, because in the case of houses so affected claims
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