667174-1886-Legislative-Council-7th-May-1886- — Page 2

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 15TH MAY, 1886.

At a meeting of the Royal Commission for the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, third May, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:-That an early opportunity be taken for conveying to the Colonial Governments the sincere thanks of the Royal Commission for having so thoroughly realised our views as to the form this Exhibition should take, and that our warmest acknowledgments are also due to the Executive Commissioners and to the Colonial Commissions.

VOTE OF MONEY REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-Read the following Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government:--

C.S.0. 3122 of 1885.

W. H. MARSH.

The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote the following sum: For expenses in connection with the Law Revision Commission, being salaries. of the Secretary and Copying Clerk, and Contingencies, to be paid during the year 1886,

..$ 2,500.00

The expenditure on this account, during 1885, has already been sanctioned by the Council. Government House, Hongkong, 7th May, 1886.

The Acting Colonial Secretary moved that this vote be referred to the Finance Committee. The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and passed.

VOTES OF MONEY PASSED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Acting Colonial Secretary moved the following Votes passed by the Finance Committee:--

(Finance Committee, 4th May, 1886.)

PAYMENTS IN EXCESS OF THE ESTIMATES FOR 1886.

ESTABLISHMENTS.

Postmaster General.

1027 of 1886. Salary of an Assistant in the Money Order Office at $40 per month, from 1st June,

Six months,

...$

.$ 240.00

12.00

Increase to the salary of two Chinese postmen at Amoy at $1 each per month,

from 1st June, 6 months,...

252.00 i

The Colonial Treasurer seconded. Question-put and passed.

QUESTION.-The Honourable P. RYRIE, pursuant to notice, asked the following question:--

What steps the Government intend to take respecting a person of the name of CHEONG A-HI, otherwise called CHEONG A-CHI, who has been detained in the Victoria Gaol since January last, and whether after consideration of the circumstances of his case he should not be released?

The Acting Attorney General replied as follows:-

Before the Executive Council was seized with the consideration of the charge of murder and piracy under which CHEONG CHI was detained, the Governor received from the Viceroy of Canton a communication stating that the said CHEONG CHI had committed other murders_ and acts of piracy, no less than 16 different acts of murder and piracy being mentioned, and asking that he be further detained until these cases be inquired into. The Viceroy, was informed that if he wished to proceed against the said CHEONG CHI, a formal application should be made for his rendition. The evidence in the first case not having been deemed satisfactory the Governor ordered the release of the said CHEONG CHI, but a formal application, received since notice of this question was given, having been made by the Viceroy for his 4 rendition on other charges of murder and piracy, the Governor has authorised a warrant to issue, in order that the matter be investigated as required by section 1 of Ordinance 2 of 1850.