640783-1896-Legislative-Council-Minutes-No-7- — Page 4

1190 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 12TH DECEMBER, 1896.

SANITARY BYE-LAW. The Colonial Secretary laid on the table an Amended Bye-law made by the Sanitary Board on the 13th August, 1896, under sub-section 4 of section 13 of Ordinance No. 24 of 1887, and moved that it be approved.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Discussion ensued.

Question-put and agreed to.

RESOLUTIONS.-The Acting Colonial Treasurer moved as follows:-

1. "That the percentages on the valuation of tenements in Aberdeen at present payable as rates under The Rating Ordinance, 1888, as amended by Ordinance 5 of 1892 be altered from 7 per cent. to 9 per cent."

2. "That the percentages on the valuation of tenements in Shaukiwan, East and West, at present payable as rates under The Rating Ordinance, 1888, as amended by Ordi- nance 5 of 1892 be altered from 7 to 9 per cent."

3. "That the percentages on the valuation of tenements, payable as rates, levied within the

arca bounded-

On the North, by the Harbour.

On the South, by the contour of the hill-side 600 feet above sea level.

On the East, by a straight line from North Point to the western end of the

Taitam tunnel and produced to meet the southern boundary.

On the West, by the eastern boundary of the City of Victoria,

be altered from 7 per cent. to 9 per cent."

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

QUESTION.-Mr. WHITEHEAD pursuant to notice asked the following question :

Will the Government inform the Council whether the Police Department continues to furnish the.

Imperial Chinese Maritime Customs with information concerning permits issued for the export from the Colony of arms and ammunition?

The Colonial Secretary replied.

His Excellency then addressed the Council as follows :----

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HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

The time having arrived when it is usual to convene the Legislative Council for the purpose of discharging those important duties which annually devolve upon it, I gladly resort to you for assistance and advice. The pleasure of meeting you again is enhanced by the satisfactory state of public affairs, especially as regards the finances of the Colony.

Before proceeding to deal with that and other interesting matters, I have to express the gratification which it affords me, and which I am sure you all share, to welcome the presence at this table of His Excellency Major-General BLACK and Mr. WEI A-YUK, as Official and Unofficial Members respectively of this Council. The course of events which brought about this change in the constitution of the Legislative Council is still fresh in your memory. I shall not refer to them in detail, but content myself with remarking that as His Excellency the General Officer Commanding is to administer the Government during the absence at any time of the Governor, it is obviously advantageous to the Colony that he should occupy a seat in the Legislative Council, while the appointment of Mr. WEI A-Yuk, a resident highly respected in Hongkong, will, it is hoped, bring the Government into still closer touch with the Chinese community which forms such an important element in the population of the Colony.

The constitution of the Executive Council has also undergone a change, which was recommended by me and approved by the Secretary of State. It now consists of two Un- official Members, Mr. CHATER and Mr. BELL-IRVING, in addition to the Official Members who previously composed it. You will agree with me in the opinion that the Colony is to be congratulated on this reconstruction which has strengthened the Executive by the addition of two able advisers, whose experience, especially on matters affecting the com- mercial welfare of Hongkong, cannot fail to be of the highest value at all times to me and to my successors in office.