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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 1ST MARCH, 1884.

24. I have now, Honourable gentlemen, referred to the principal subjects which will be submitted for your consideration during the present Session. Governors and Legislatures should speak by their actions; and it is my confident hope that our united efforts will, by the blessing of Divine Providence, promote the general welfare and prosperity of all races and classes in this Colony.

His Excellency the Governor having left the Council Chamber, the chair was taken by the Chief Justice, as Senior Member.

The Colonial Secretary moved that the following gentlemen be appointed a Committee to prepare the address in reply to His Excellency's Speech :---

The Honourable THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. The Honourable THE ATTORNEY GENERAL,

The Honourable THE COLONIAL TREASURER. The Honourable P. RYRIE,

and The Honourable F. BULKELEY JOHNSON.

Question-put and passed.

The Colonial Secretary laid on the table the following papers :-

Correspondence respecting the Police Force.

Memorandum on the subject of New Police Pension Rules and Increased Rates of Pay.

Draft Regulations for Government Scholarships.

Correspondence respecting the Postal Service.

Financial Statement showing the position of the Colony at the end of 1883.

Report of Commission appointed to inquire into the alleged Smuggling from the Colony into

China.

Memorandum on the Hongkong Blockade.

On the motion of the Colonial Secretary, the Council adjourned till 5 P.M. to enable the Address of the Legislative Council in reply to the Speech of His Excellency the Governor to be prepared.

The Council re-assembled at 5 P.M.

The Chief Justice took the Chair.

The Acting Clerk of Councils read at the table the following Address to be presented to His Excellency the Governor, in reply to the Speech he had been pleased to deliver to the Council :-

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,

We, the members of the Legislative Council of Hongkong, in Council assembled, beg to thank Your Excellency for the Speech with which you have opened this the first Session of the re-constituted Legislature of the Colony.

2. We desire to offer to Your Excellency our cordial congratulations upon the wise and salutary reform in the constitution of the Council which has been granted by Her Majesty's Government, on your recommendation, and with which your name will for ever be associated. We heartily concur in Your Excellency's expectation that the Governinent cannot fail to profit by the advice and assistance of an increased number of Unofficial Members; and that the entire Legislature will be animated by a common desire to promote the general welfare and progress of the community.

3. We concur in the advisability of assimilating the proceedings of this Legislature to the consti tutional forms established in the other principal Crown Colonies.

4. Your Excellency's recommendation concerning the appointment of Committees of Finance, Law, and Public Works will receive our immediate attention.

5. We assure Your Excellency that we shall not fail to give our careful consideration to every question and measure which may be brought before us.

6. We learn with much pleasure that the Financial position of the Colony, as shown by the Official Statistics, is satisfactory.

7. We agree with your Excellency in the opinion that, in justice to the present generation of tax-payers in Hongkong, a moderate loan should be raised, on the exhaustion of the existing assets, to defray a portion of the cost of those Sanitary and other Public Works, which are recognised as of permanent importance for the security of the general health and well-being of our population.

8. The Estimates for 1885 will receive our careful attention, when they are laid before us.

9. We shall examine the Legislative Measures proposed with the careful deliberation which their importance requires.

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10. We thank Your Excellency for the attention which you have given to the circumstances of the so-called Blockade of Hongkong; and we shall be glad to assist in bringing about an equitable settlement of this difficult question.