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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 4ти AUGUST, 1883.

Mr. JOHNSON, pursuant to notice, makes the following motion, and addresses the Council :— "That His Excellency the Governor be respectfully requested to cause to be laid on the Table "copies of correspondence between the Chamber of Commerce and the Colonial Secretary relative to "the application of the Canton-Hongkong Wa-Hop Telegraph Company to lay a cable across the "harbour."

His Excellency the Governor replies as follows:-

In reply to the Honourable Member, I beg to state that there is no objection whatever to lay on the table copies of the correspondence referred to. On the contrary, I have always been, throughout my long career as a Colonial Governor, in favour of the greatest degree of publicity respecting public affairs which may be compatible with the interests of the public service. With regard to the matter of the Wa-Hop Telegraph Company, I take this opportunity of stating that there is no objection on the part of the Colonial Government to that Company laying a cable from the present terminus at Kaulung to this City-a distance of about four miles. But the Imperial Government have given strict instructions that all applications in connection with the subject of telegraphic extension shall be referred for consideration to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Accordingly, the late Administrator of the Government (Mr. MARSH) so referred the first application of the Wa-

a-Hop Telegraph Company. The reply was to this effect: "Her Majesty's Government have thought it well, in view of the present complicated condition of telegraphic arrangements in China, that the permission which has applied for should not be granted." I have recently forwarded, for favourable consideration, a second application from the Wa-Hop Telegraph Company. That is how the matter stands now.

The Colonial Secretary then, by command of the Governor, lays upon the table the following correspondence:-

(a.) Acting Colonial Secretary, to Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, 11th October, 1882. (6.) Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, to Acting.Colonial Secretary, 14th October, 1882,

with enclosure.

(c.) Chairman, Chamber of Commerce, to Acting Colonial Secretary, 28th December, 1882. His Excellency the Governor adjourns the Council sine die.

Read and confirmed, this 3rd day of August, 1883.

ARATHOON SETH,

Clerk of Councils.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.No. 263.

G. F. BOWEN, Governor.

The following Ordinance has passed the Legislative Council, and received the assent of His Excellency the Governor.

Council Chamber, Hongkong, 3rd August, 1883,

ARATHOON SETHI, Clerk of Councils.

[L.S.]

G. F.

BoWEN.

No. 10 of 1883,

An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hong. kong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, entitled The French Mail Steamers Ordinance continuation Ordinance, 1883.

[3rd August, 1883.]

E it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the

Badvice of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows

1. Ordinance 6 of 1880, entitled An Ordinance to make temporary provision for securing the status of French Mail Steamers within the Ports of the Colony of Hongkong, shall continue in force until the first of September, 1884, inclusive.

Passed the Legislative Council of Hongkong, this 3rd day of August, 1883.

ARATHOON SETH, Clerk of Councils.

Assented to by His Excellency the Governor, the 3rd day of August, 1883.

W. H. MARSH,

Colonial Secretary.