649816-1892-Legislative-Council-No-5 — Page 3

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 30TH APRIL, 1892.

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(2.) With reference to the grant of $3,000 for Protestant Chaplains, &c., for 1892, voted by the Council in November-December, 1891, will the Government inform the Council, if the Secretary of State has approved of the vote, or any portion of it, if so how much, how is the money to be divided, and what is the principle on which the division is to be made. (3.) With reference to the Memorial and Petition of Bankers, Merchants, Brokers, Traders, and others carrying on business in the Colony of Hongkong, addressed to the Right Honourable Lord Knutsford, Secretary of State for the Colonies, in connection with the Bill entitled "An Ordinance to amend the Law in respect of the sale of Shares in Com- panies registered under the Companies Ordinances 1865 to 1886, and in other Joint Stock Companies," will the Government lay on the table a copy of any reply thereto, which have been received. (4.) Will the Government revert to the convenient system obtaining in former years, of appending to the printed draft of each new Bill statement or memorandum of the objects and reasons for its introduction.

may

The Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would move the following resolution, viz. :---

That in consequence of the constantly increasing cost of the Administrative Staff of the Govern- ment of Hongkong, it-having risen from $547,650 in 1887, to nearly $800,000 in 1892, exclusive of $65,200 for pensions, and that the Colony's Revenue in the near future is more likely to decrease than expand, Government appoint a Commission selected from the Un- Official Members of Councils, and the general community, with the Honourable Mr. O'Brien, the Colonial Secretary, as Chairman, with full powers to enquire into and report with a view to retrenchment on the working of all the Departments of the Government, and as to the desirability or otherwise of the redistribution of work, the amalgamation of certain offices, the increasing of the hours of the official day, privileges in the way of leave, &c., &c. The Honourable C. P. CHATER gave notice that at next meeting of Council he would ask the following question :—

Will the Government lay upon the table a copy of any reply received to the petitions addressed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies by European and Chinese Bankers, Merchants, Shipowners and Traders residing in the Colony, praying for the repeal of the Ordinance to restrict the Loading and Unloading of cargo on Sunday in the Waters of the Colony.

The Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD asked the following question :-

Referring to Dr. Eitel's report on the Government Central School for Girls and to the Statement therein, that the Government were about to appropriate a site for a new School, will the Government lay upon the table any papers or correspondence on the subject, and state if the Government intend to take the opinion of this Council on the subject before making any appropriation either in money or land in connection therewith.

The Colonial Secretary replied.

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BILL ENTITLED "AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE No. 15 of 1888, ENTITLED 'THE RATING ORDINANCE, 1888,'· AND ORDINANCE No. 16 OF 1890 ENTITLED THE WATERWORKS ORDINANCE, 1890.'"The Colonial Secretary moved the first reading of the Bill.

The Attorney General seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

BILL ENTITLED

+

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE BANKRUPTCY ORDINANCE, 1891.'

-The Attorney

General moved the first reading of the Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

G

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE DUE PERFORMANCE OF DIVINE WORSHIP AND OTHER SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RITES OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND AT ST. JOHN's CATHEDRAL CHURCH AT VICTORIA IN THIS COLONY AND ELSEWHERE, TO INCORPORATE A CHURCH Body, TO VEST THE SAID CATHEDRAL IN SUCH BODY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.”- The Attorney General moved the first reading of the Bill,

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.