CO129-245 - Acting Governor Fleming - 1890 [5-7] — Page 629

for

the

лесско

usually

taken at

>

this time

of the

year.

It is

satisfactory to

find; in so far.

0.0

we are able

17268

RECP

RaP I SEP 30)

SPEECH OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT AT THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG, 21ST JULY, 1890.

626

to judge, that the financial

condition of the Colony remains

downd

I have the honour to be

My Lord,

Your Lordship's Most Obedient

Aumble Servant,

Elering.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN,

Before we adjourn to indulge in a short recess from our Legislative duties it may be of interest to have brought before you a short retrospect of the work we have accomplished during the last few months and to be informed, in so far as I can inform you, of the position of the Colony at the

present time.

It was with regret that we learnt from Sir WILLIAM DES Vœux, towards the beginning of this year, that ill-health compelled him to leave us for a while, but we trust that when he returns in December next he will do so with renewed vigour so that he may be enabled to take in the future that same active interest in the welfare of this Colony as he has taken in the past.

A few months ago we welcomed in our midst a Son and a Daughter-in-law of Our Gracious Sovereign, and we have the gratification of feeling that Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Connaught were well pleased with the brief visit they paid to this the most Eastern Point of Her Majesty's Colonial Empire.

The number of Ordinances which we have passed during the present session has not been very great and I was in hopes that we might have been able to deal with several other matters, more or less ripe for our consideration.

We have, however, enacted some laws of importance. I may refer to "The Magistrates' Ordinance "--a very lengthy measure; "The Waterworks Ordinance;" "The Vaccination Ordinance;" "An Ordinance relating to the Falsification of Accounts;" besides others of less significance.

There are several matters which I trust will engage our attention when we meet again- such as a new law on Bankruptcy, the modification of our Emigration laws, the amendment of our laws concerning Opium, &c.

But the enacting of Ordinances is not the only work we have got through. We have adopted a new Code of Standing Rules and Orders for the regulation of our proceedings, more in accordance with the procedure we now follow and more in conformity with the Royal Instructions under which this Council is constituted.

The Finance Committee have had under their consideration many matters of importance to carry out which it was necessary to apply for public moneys.

It will always be my endeavour to consult this Commeil previous to undertaking measures which involve that cost which it is necessary for this Council to sanction. I do not hesitate to say that there are few Colonies in which Members of the Legislature are prepared to vote moneys so readily as here for what they consider essential in the public interest. But the more the Members of a Legislative body put trust in the proposals made for public expenditure, the less they regard with suspicion suggestions made in this direction, the more careful should a Govern- inent be in bringing such proposals before them and the more anxious should it be to see that the money is legitimately expended towards the purpose for which it was asked.