651346-1892-Report-Widows-and-Orphans-Fund-1891-1892 — Page 1

892

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 19TH NOVEMBER, 1892.

Titlo.

Repeal of s.

45, No. 8 of 1860.

Amendment.

}

A. BILL

ENTITLED

An Ordinance to repeal Section 45 of Ordinance No. 8 of 1860 and to amend Schedule A

BE

to Ordinance No. 1 of 1883.

E it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows

1. Section 45 of Ordinance No. 8 of 1860 is hereby repealed but such repeal shall not affect anything heretofore done thereunder.

2. Schedule A to Ordinance No. 1 of 1883 is hereby amended by substituting for the figures and words “25 cents per day" the figures and words "50 cents per day."

Objects and Reasons.

The objects of this Bill are twofold.

First. To repeal section 45 of Ordinance No. 8 of 1860 relating to the Probate Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. That section provides for the payment of the net amount of intestates' estate from $100 and upwards to the Colonial Treasurer and for the keeping of accounts by him, &c. As a matter of practice the section has been constantly ignored and for a period of about 20 years, the accounts of these estates have been regulated by departmental instruc- tions. These instructions have worked well in practice and are deemed satisfactory. They are, however, incon- sistent with the provisions of section 45. The necessity for the repeal is therefore obvious.

Secondly.-To amend schedule A to Ordinance No. 1 of 1883 relating to distraints for rent. By that schedule a fee of 25 cents per day is allowed for a watchman in charge of a house or premises under distraint. The fee is found too small to secure the services of a respectable Chinaman. It is therefore proposed to raise it to 50 cents per day and by amending the Ordinance to legalize the change.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 466.

The following Report on the Widows and Orphans' Fund for the year 1891-92, which was laid before the Legislative Council on the 16th instant, is published.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 17th November, 1892.

G. T. M. O'BRIEN, Colonial Secretary.

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REPORT ON THE WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' FUND

for the 12 months, from 1st July, 1891, to 30th June, 1892.

SIR, We have the honour to submit the following report on the Widows' and Orphans' Fund for the period between 1st July, 1891, and 30th June, 1892.

The Fund was inaugurated under instructions from the Secretary of State for the Colonies contained in his despatch No. 110 of the 19th June, 1890, by which contribution to the Fund was made compulsory on all Officers appointed to the Service after the 31st December, 1890, and on those Officers not appointed from England who received an increase of 20% to their salaries under the recent scheme of general increase to the salaries of public Officers in this Colony.