629590-1899-L-C-Minutes-No-7 — Page 2

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 24TH JUNE, 1899.

RESOLUTION. The Acting Attorney General moved the following resolution :-

That this Council approves of the repeal by the Sanitary Board of the Bye-laws made by the Sanitary Board on the 11th day of April, 1895, under section 13, sub-section 14, of the Public Health Ordinance, 1887, and approved by the Legislative Council on the 23rd day of May, 1895, such repeal to take effect from the 27th day of February, 1899, the date on which the new Bye-laws in substitution for those now repealed were approved by the Legis- lative Council.

The Director of Public Works seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

QUESTIONS. Mr. BELILIOS, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions:-

(1.) Has the Government received a copy of a letter from the Director of the Manila Observatory, dated the 7th March, in which he complains of a letter addressed by the Director of the Hongkong Observatory to the Weather Bureau of the Government of the United States of America, in which the said passages are said to occur:- "The Observatory in Manila is in the hands of men who possess very little scientific education and that "scandal is caused by the Observatory continually communicating sensational typhoon warnings to the newspapers in Hongkong"?

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(2.) Was this communication to the Weather Bureau of the United States Government made

with the knowledge and consent of the Colonial Government?

(3.) Has Dr. Doberck been asked to explain his action in condemning an Observatory to whom the Colony is so much indebted for the timely storm warnings received for a number of years past?

(4.) What action do the Government propose to take in this matter?

(5.) Is not an apology or an explanation due to the Director of the Manila Observatory from

the Government?

(6.) In reference to the correspondence between the Kowloon School Committee and the Govern

ment on the subject of the provision of educational facilities for the European children in that portion of the Colony, and which, after extending over some two years, eventually culminated in an offer by His Excellency Major-General Black "to establish a school open to children of any nationality, to provide a teaching staff, to charge fees at the same rate as the fees paid at Queen's College, and to give a purely English education," which was gratefully accepted by the Kowloon School Committee in September last, will the Government be good enough to say what has been done in the matter?

(7.) If the scheme is being carried out, when will the teachers arrive from England? (8.) It being proposed to rent a house for the purpose for a period as a trial, has any building

been secured by the Government?

(9.) If nothing has been done towards redemption of the pledge made by the Government to the

Kowloon School Committee, is it intended to go on with the scheme? (10.) If not, will the Government give reasons for not so proceeding?

The Acting Attorney General replied.

The

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO EXEMPT THE TERRITORIES COMPRISED IN THE RECENT EXTENSION OF THE COLONY OF HONGKONG from the OPERATION OF CERTAIN LAWS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.- Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of the Bill.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

The Acting Attorney General moved the suspension of the Standing Rules and Order.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

The Acting Attorney General addressed the Council and moved the second reading of the Bill. The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

-Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed.

Bill reported with amendment.

The Acting Attorney General moved the suspension of the Standing Rules and Order.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

The Acting Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question--put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass. Bill passed.