15015-1910-Minutes-No-4 — Page 2

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, MAY 13, 1910.

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QUESTIONS.—Mr. STEWART gave notice that he will ask the following Questions at the next meeting of the Council:

(a.) Did the Governor of the Colony in this Council on the 20th Ju y, 1903, accur- ately state the intentions of the Government when he said “As regards the ground in front of the Club, I hope that nothing will ever he built upon it. I propose that the ground shall be made a public garden

My iden

is that the ground shall be preserved as an open space entirely and add to the beauty of the place" (b.) Did the Honourable the Director of Public Works (then as now Mr. Chatham) at the official ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new Law Courts, on November the 12th, 1993, in the presence of the Governor of the Colony, the Hon, the Colourd Secretary (then Mr, now Sir Henry May), and may other high Government officials, decurately state the intent ous of the Gorern- ment when he read from a written document this announcement : to the north of this will, therefore, remain unbuilt upon, and an almost unrivalled site for the Courts, having regard to the open spaces which will adjoin them on three sides, will thus be created???

· The area

(c.) Did His Excellency Sir Frederick Layard accurately state the intentions of the Government when, on the 28th October, 1909, he stil in this Council, in reply to a question whether the Government would undertake to have the plot in question cleared and made presentable as soon as it in is no longer necess try to the work on the Loe Courts and Post Office to mabat is it in its present nutidy state the present in 'ention of the Gurernment is to clear the plot as soon as it can be done”;

(d.). In view of these seemingly authoritative statements, not easily to be thought of as irresponsible utterances, is it, on consideration, really incomprehensible to high Government officials how an impression tras created in the public mind which led to many hearing with surprise of the recent decisión to sell to a private purchaser, for building purposes, the site in question?

SQUATTERS AMENDMENT BILL.-The Colonial Secretary moved the First reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Squatters Ordinance, 1890.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

PHARMACY AMENDMENT BILL.-The Colonial Secretary addressed the Council and moved the Second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Pharmacy Ordinance, 1908.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed, the Bill being left in Committer.

MERCHANT SHIPPING FURTHER AMENDMENT BULL--The Colonial Secretary addressed the Council and moved the Second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance further to amend the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1892.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed, and Bill reported without amendment.

The Colonial Secretary moved that the Bill be read a third time.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put--that this Bill do pass,

Bill passed.