641884-1895-Bill-Public-Library — Page 1

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 4TH MAY, 1895.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.

OTICE is hereby given that the trustees of the Hongkong Public Library intend at an early date to apply to the Honourable the Legislative Council of Hongkong for an Ordinance to provide for the incorporation of a body to take over and maintain the Hongkong Public Library, and for other purposes in connection therewith.

Hongkong, 3rd May, 1895.

Title.

Preamble.

Short title.

The Board.

Incorporation.

Object of corporation.

Transfer of library.

A BILL

ENTITLED

An Ordinance to provide for the incorporation of a body to take over and maintain the Hongkong Public Library, and for other purposes in connection therewith.

W

HEREAS in the month of July 1894 a public library entitled The Hongkong Public Library was estab- lished in this colony, and the same has hitherto been supported and carried on by voluntary contributions :

And whereas it is expedicnt to give to the said library a permanent and legal status, and to endow it with funds out of the public treasury:

And whereas GEORGE BENJAMIN DODWELL, Esquire, The Honourable JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART and ROBERT SHEWAN, Esquire, have placed in the hands of His Excellency the Governor satisfactory proof of their being the present trustees of the property of the said library : And whereas the said trustees and certain other persons hereinafter named have applied to His Excellency the Governor to incorporate a library body, and to vest the property of the said library in such body, and otherwise to make provision in connection therewith:

Be it enacted by His Excellency The Governor of Hong- kong, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-

1. This Ordinance may be cited for all purposes as The Hongkong Public Library Ordinance, 1895.

2. The affairs of the said library shall be managed by a Board consisting of nine members, viz. :~~

(1) Two members who shall be nominated and ap- pointed by His Excellency the Governor, and shall hold office during His Excellency's plea- sure. THOMAS JACKSON, Esquire and Colonel WILLIAM HUTCHINSON MULLOY shall be such members in the first instance.

(2) The Colonial Secretary for the time being who

shall be ex officio a member of the Board. (3) Six members who shall be elected by such of the donors of $50 or more, and subscribers of $10 or more yearly to the funds of the corporation as shall be present in the Colony at the time of such election. The said elected members shall retire yearly, and shall be re-eligible, and any vacancy occurring among them during the currency of a year shall be filled for the re- mainder thereof by cooptation of the Board. JAMES CANTLIE, Esquire, The Reverend Row- LAND FRANCIS COBBOLD, GEORGE BENJAMIN DODWELL, Esquire, ERNEST HAMILTON SHARP, Esquire, ROBERT SHEWAN, Esquire and AL- FRED WOOLLEY, Esquire shall be taken as the said elected members for the first period of one year.

3. The Board as from time to time constituted shall be and is hereby created a body corporate, and shall for the purposes of this Ordinance have the name of The Hongkong Public Library Corporation, and by that name sue and be sued in all courts, and shall have a common seal.

4. The corporation is erected with the object of taking. over the said library, and extending and perpetually maiu- taining the same for the public use and benefit.

5. The said library and everything appertaining thereto are hereby transferred to and vested in the Board for the purposes aforesaid.