629680-1899-L-C-Minutes-No-8 — Page 2

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 1ST JULY, 1899.

REPORT OF THE STANDING LAW COMMITTEE.-The Acting Attorney General, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the report of the Standing Law Committee dated the 16th February and 2nd March, 1899, (No. 2).

NOTICE OF QUESTIONS.--Mr. WHITEHEAD gave notice that at the next meeting he would ask the following questions:----

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1. Will the Government lay upon the table a statement of the amount expended by the Public Works Department for repairs and alterations to Beaconsfield" and of the re-payments made by the owner of the building in respect of the former; also state for the information of the Council under what authority this expenditure has been disbursed?

2. Will the Government lay upon the table a statement of the total expenditure payable out of the Colonial Treasury in connection with the preparations for and the occupation of the Colony's new territory leased by China to Great Britain per the Convention of 30th June, 1898? 3. What steps have the Government taken to bring the Police Force up to its full strength as authorised by Ordinance, and are the Government prepared to introduce an Ordinance sanctioning the increase of the force to a strength sufficient for the adequate policing of the Colony's new territory?

4. Will the Government lay upon the table a copy of the correspondence which passed between the British Government and the Imperial Government of China and the Colonial Government on the subject of the arrangements to be made in accordance with the Convention of 20th June, 1898, for the better protection of the Chinese revenue from loss by the smuggling of opium from Hongkong into China?

5. Are the Government prepared to introduce a Bill to amend the Women and Girls' Protection Ordinance on similar lines, so far as circumstances permit, to those embodied in an

· Ordinance to amend the Women and Girls' Protection Ordinance, 1896,” read a first time in the Singapore Legislative Council on Tuesday. 13th instant- the outcome of corres- pondence between the Straits Government, the Straits Settlements Association and the Secretary of State for the Colonies; and if not, will the Government inform the Council of the cause of the delay?

Mr. BELILIOS gave notice that at the next meeting he would ask the following questions:---

1. Will the Government state whether or not there has been any change, improvement, or progress in the mode of treatment of the plaque patients in the Colonial Hospitals since the disease appeared in epidemic form in 1894?

2. As the proportion of deaths to cases is larger here than in India, where considerable progress in treating the disease has been made, why has not constant (say, weekly) communication been opened with the Indian Government for the purpose of securing the latest information as to treatment of patients?

3. If no such communication has been attempted, will the Government take steps to secure it

without further delay?

4. Does the Government supply the Medical Staff at the Hospitals with all the necessary instru- ments (such as microscopes, &c.) for the purpose of diagnosing cases when first presented? If not, will the Government take steps to procure all the needful appliances for the conduct of medical investigations without delay?

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

1. The Secretary of State for the Colonies having only sanctioned the collection of duties on Opium by this Government, do the Government propose to collect Customs duties on other commo- dities?

2. The Stations formerly belonging to the Imperial Maritime Customs having been taken over by the Police, will the Government say whether or not the Customs Officials are still in occupa- tion?

3. Have the Colonial Government undertaken to collect duties temporarily or for an indefinite

period?

The Acting Attorney General replied.

BILL ENTITLED THE PIERS ORDINANCE, 1899.—The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of the Bill.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Mr. WHITEHEAD addressed the Council.

The Acting Attorney General addressed the Council.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.