CO129-272 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1896 [5-9] — Page 494

Enclosure 2

C. O.

į

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 298.

20571

The following Commission issued by His Excellency the Governor in Council is published.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Colonial Secretary.

[L.S.]

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 30th July, 1896.

COMMISSION BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

WILLIAM ROBINSON,

Governor.

Whereas it is expedient that a Commission be appointed to inquire into the existence of insanitary properties in the Colony and the means to be adopted to improve such properties and to abate over-crowding, with special reference to the following details, viz.:-

1. Whether it is desirable to resume insanitary properties, improve them and then re-sell them.

2. The means by which such properties are to be resumed and the compensation to be paid for same assessed.

3. How the said properties should be improved and by whom such improvement should be carried out.

4. The means to be adopted for housing the occupants of any dwellings pending improvement.

5. The amount of capital required for resumption and improvements, how it is to be raised and how far it will be met by a re-sale, with any suggestions or recommendations the Commission may make on the subject.

Now therefore, I, Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies and Vice-Admiral of the same, in Executive Council assembled, do hereby under the powers vested in me by Ordinance 27 of 1886, entitled The Commissioners Powers Ordinance, 1886, appoint you---

1. The Honourable JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary and a Member of the Executive and Legislative Councils,

2. The Honourable CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, a Member of the Legislative Council,

3. The Honourable THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD, a Member of the Legislative Council,

4. NATHANIEL JOSEPH EDE, Esquire,

5. THOMAS JACKSON, Esquire,

to be a Commission for the purpose of instituting, making and conducting such enquiry; And I do hereby appoint you the said JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART to be the Chairman of such Commission; And I do hereby appoint ARATHOON SETH, Esquire, to be the Secretary to such Commission; And I do hereby order and direct that for all or any of the purposes of this Commission three Members thereof inclusive of the Chairman shall be and constitute a quorum. And I do further hereby order and direct that the said Commission shall, for the purpose of making the said inquiry, have all such powers as are vested in the Supreme Court of this Colony or in any Judge thereof on the occasion of any suit or action in respect of the following matters, viz.:-

The enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them on oath, affirmation or otherwise;

The compelling the production of documents;

The punishing persons guilty of contempt;

The ordering the inspection of any property; with power also, for the purpose of this Commission, to enter and view any premises.

And I do hereby further direct that every examination of witnesses shall be held in private; And I do further require you to report to me the evidence and your opinion thereon; And I hereby charge all persons in the Public Service to assist you herein.

Given under my hand and the Public Seal of the Colony in Executive Council, this Twenty-ninth day of July, One thousand Eight hundred and Ninety-six.

By Command,

F. J. BADELEY,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

488