Enclosure
86
the proceedings at a meet. ing of the Legislative Coun oil held
on
the 25th instant.
I have the honour to be,
Sir, Your Most Obedient
Humble Servant,
William Robin'g
Rohngry
4084
28TE 98
Extract from the "Daily Press" of the 26th. January, 1898.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held at the Council Chamber yesterday afternoon, Present:-
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR, Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, G.C.M.G.
His EXCELLENCY Major-General BLACK, C.B. (Officer Commanding the Troops).
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART (Colonial Secretary.)
Hon. W. M. GOODMAN (Attorney-General). Hon. R. MURRAY RUMSEY (Harbour Master.) Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Captain Super- intendent of Police.)
Hon. T. SERCOMBE SMITH (Colonial Trea- surer).
Hon. R. D. ORMSBY (Director of Public Works).
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. Ho KAI.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G.
Hon. J. J. BELL-IRVING.
Hon. WET A YUK.
Mr. J. G. T. BuCKLE (Clerk of Councils). MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
PAPERS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the report of the Head Master of Queen's College for 1895, further papers respecting the proposed new Government offices, and the Supreme Court revenue returns for 1897.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS moved the adoption of the minutes of a meeting of the Public Works Committee held on the 11th January.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. Carried.
HIS EXCELLENCY BIDS THE COUNCIL FAREWELL.
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR-Gentle- men of the Legislative Council, my principal object in calling & meeting of Council this afternoon
Was that I might have an opportunity of announcing to you officially a fact with which you are already acquainted privately, that I am leaving this colony on the 1st of February and that my successor will be Sir Henry Blake. The Secretary of State for the Colonies, to whom I telegraphed a few days ago, is unable to inform me of the exact date upon which my successor will arrive in Hongkong, but I assume that after sight or nine years' hard work in Jamaica he will probably apply for several months leave of absence. In the meantime, His Ex- cellency General Black will administer the affairs of this Government, a duty for which he is eminently qualified. (Applause.) I have to thank you all, gentlemen, for the kindness and consideration which you have extended to me during the past six years and two months--a term of office which, uninterrupted by any leave of absence, I do not think has ever been exceeded by a Governor of any one of Hor Majesty's Colonias. To Mr. Chater, the senior unofficial member, my thanks are especi- ally.dae. From you, gentlemen, I have received valuable advice, and I think I may fairly say on some occasious even unanimous support. I can assure you that I shall always look back with great pleasure upon our meetings here- and if I should ever recall any serious differ- ence of opinion which may have occurred be- tween the executive and the unofficial members of Council I shall not forget that we one and all, according to our own lights, although we differed, were solely aminated by a desire to do That we individually thought was best for the interests of this progressive colony. (Applause). Gentlemen. I bid you farewell and may every success attend you in the future, both in your public and private capacition. (Applause).
Hon. C. CHATER-Your Excellen sy, we have listened with much interest to the announce- ment you have just made, which, although not unexpected, when thus officially spoken em- phasises its reality. Speaking on my own bo- half and, I trust, on behalf of my unofficial colleagues present, I desire to express my sincere appreciation of the able manner in which you have for the past six years presided over this Council-(applause)—and of the unfailing courtesy and forbearance shown by youto 'all. (Applause.) During your Excellency's ad ministration many important Ordinances have! been added to the statute book and many im. portant public works accomplished and others inaugurated. (Applause.) This Council, as well as the Executive Council, has been enlarged, and the colony thereby afforded more voice in the control of its affairs. Your Excellency arrived in this colony st a time of deep depression. You will leave it in a condition of renewed prosperity with every. thing on a soundor basis; and this has come to pass in spite of some adverse conditions, namely, the continued dullness of trade and two out- breaks of plague. Under your auspices most important sanitary legislation has been carried through, greatly to the benefit of public health, though in the face of a good deal of opposition; and the city now is in a far better position to grapple with epidemics than it has ever been before. (Applause). been some friction occasionally and
Naturally there has debates at times have been very Warra indeed, but your Excellency has held the reins with tact and impartiality, and now in laying them down you have the great satisfaction of knowing that you will leave the colony better it every respect than you found it. (Applause.) I feel only too conscious that I am unable to do justice to the occasion, but I trust that my un- official colleagues, some of whom will no doubt address you themselves, will supplement my feeble attempt at expressing the general appre- ciation of your Excellency's successful and popular administration, which has also been tho longest since the founding of this colony. And now, Sir, in bidding you vidcially farewell I have only to say that although we may not meet at this table or in this Council Chamber again, yet we shall cherish with deep and lively recollection the urbanity with which you have always presided over our deliberations, In the best sense of the term I am sure we all join in wishing you, Sir, goodbye. (Applause.)
our
Hon. Ho Ka-Sir, I fully concur with the } remarks that have fallen from the lips of the hon the senios unofficial member. I have been with him in the sentimente he has expressed » in regard to your Excellency. For the past six years your Excellency has most successfully. presided over this Council and during that long period your consummate tact, your wise discre- tion, and your unfailing courtesy have promoted good feeling and harmony amongst hon. members and increased the usefulness of their dolibera- tions.
2
Whether we agreed or disagreed upon a measure or a subject, whether we engaged in heated discussion or pleasant banter, the decorum and dignity of the Council have always been maintained. During the six years of your administration we have passed many useful measures and have revised and improved
old great many
Ordinances, but I venture to say that in no instance has any harassing or embarrassing legislation been passed. So far as the public works of the colony are concerned, when your Excellency assumed office there were many useful works in progress and in point of completion, but your Excellency has inaugurated many useful works and when they are completed-such as the Peak roads, the road leading from Plantation Road to Magazine Gap, the new houses that are to be built in Taipingshan, and other new works which your Excellency hat caused to be in- augurated all these, when completed, I sny,
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