FINANCE COMMITTEE.
PRESENT:
COUNCIL CHAMBER,
HONGKONG, 20th July, 1886.
The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (FREDERICK STEWART), Chairman.
His Honour the Acting Chief Justice (JAMES RUSSELL).
The Honourable the Acting Attorney General, (EDWARD JAMES ACKROYD).
The Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER).
The Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE).
PHINEAS RYRIE.
WILLIAM KESWICK,
FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON.
WONG SHING.
ALEXANDER PALMER MCEWEN.
The Committee meet this day pursuant to the following Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government:-
W. H. MARSH.
Before bringing before the Executive Council the resolution proposed yesterday by the Finance Committee, which resolution involves the serious question whether the practice of many years past is to be now suddenly changed, I wish that question to be considered at a full meeting of the Finance Committee, as I am afraid that the resolution is far from expressing the views of the majority of the Members. I request the Finance Committee therefore to meet again on Tuesday next, the 20th instant, at 4 P.M., when I trust that all the Members will find it convenient to attend, and will consider the proposition made by the Honourable A. P. McEwen or any other that may be made in lieu thereof.
Government House, Hongkong, 16th July, 1886.
The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 15th instant, are read and confirmed.
(1.) Read the following Despatches in connection with the first formation in this Colony of the Finance Committee:-
C. O. Despatch, No. 5, of 8th January, 1870.
Governor's Despatch, No. 68, of 1st August, 1872.
C. O. Despatch, No. 145, of 8th October, 1872.
Read also extract from Governor's Speech of 19th October, 1878, and extract from Secretary of State's Despatch, No. 42, of 8th May, 1879.
Read also the following Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government :-
W. H. MARSH.
I think that the Honourable Member who made the motion in Finance Committee on the 15th instant, that its meetings should be held with open doors, has mistaken the object of the Finance Committee.
2. The object of the Finance Committee, as also of the Committees of Laws and of Public Works, is as stated in the opening Speech of Sir GEORGE BOWEN, on 28th February, 1884, "to examine, in the first instance, the details of every proposed vote and measure." It is with the view of saving much valuable time in Council that these Committees were appointed here, as in other Crown Colonies. They perform precisely the same functions that Board Committees do for Banks and Public Companies, and are, as far as my knowledge extends, never held in public. In Mauritius, from which Colony the practice was first borrowed as far back as 1872 by Hongkong, the system has worked admirably for over thirty years, and the meetings are never held with open doors.
3. In one point, however, the practice in Mauritius differs from that of Hongkong, and I have long thought that the Mauritius practice might be introduced here. The draft minutes of the Finance Committee are there either circulated for revision by the different
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No. 17,
Enclosure 3.
216
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FINANCE COMMITTEE.
PRESENT:
COUNCIL CHAMBER,
HONGKONG, 20th July, 1886.
The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (FREDERICK STEWART), Chairman. His Honour the Acting Chief Justice (JAMES RUSSELL).
The Honourable the Acting Attorney General, (EDWARD JAMES ACKROYD).
27
35
the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER).
the Surveyor General, (Jons MACNEILE PRICE).
PHINEAS RYRIE.
WILLIAM KESWICK,
FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON.
"
WONG SHING.
12
35
ALEXANDER PALMER MCEWEN.
The Committee meet this day pursuant to the following Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government:-
(.5,0. Gny of 1895.
W. H. MARSIL.
Before bringing before the Executive Council the resolution proposed yesterday by the Finance Committee, which resolution involves the serious question whether the practice of many years past is to be now suddenly changed, I wish that question to be considered at a full meeting of the Finance Committee, as I am afraid that the resolution is far from express- ing the views of the majority of the Members. I request the Finance Committee therefore to meet again on Tuesday next, the 20th instant, at 4 P.M., when I trust that all the Members will find it convenient to attend, and will consider the proposition made by the Honourable A. P. McEwen or any other that may be made in lieu thereof.
Government House, Hongkong, 16th July, 1886.
The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 15th instant, are read and confirmed.
(1.) Read the following Despatches in connection with the first formation in this Colony of the Finance Committee:-
C. O. Despatch, No. 5, of 8th January, 1870. Governor's Despatch, No. 68, of 1st August, 1872.
C. O. Despatch, No. 145, of 8th October, 1872.
Read also extract from Governor's Speech of 19th October, 1878, and extract from Secretary
of State's Despatch, No. 42, of 8th May, 1879.
Read also the following Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government :--
W. H. MARSH.
I think that the Honourable Member who made the motion in Finance Committee on the 15th instant, that its meetings should be held with open doors, has. mistaken the object of the Finance Committee.
2. The object of the Finance Committee, as also of the Committees of Laws and of Public Works, is as stated in the opening Speech of Sir GEORGE BOWEN, on 28th February, 1884, "to examine, in the first instance, the details of every proposed vote and measure.' It is with the view of saving much valuable time in Council that these Corumittees were appointed here, as in other Crown Colonies. They perform precisely the same functions that Board Committees do for Banks and Public Companies, and are, as far as my knowledge extends, never held in public. In Mauritius, from which Colony the practice was first borrowed as far back as 1872 by Hongkong, the system has worked admirably for over thirty years, and the meetings are never held with open doors.
3. In one point, however, the practice in Mauritius differs from that of Hongkong, and I have long thought that the Mauritius practice might be introduced here. The draft minutes of the Finance Committee are there either circulated for revision by the different
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