THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH SEPTEMBER, 1880. 701
MACDONNELL went away and some years after Sir ARTHUR KENNEDY came, but without his sanction. This notice adopted a distinction of nationality without the knowledge or consent of the Executive. When this notice was brought to my knowledge, what did I do? I proceeded to lay the facts before my advisers. The notice was fully considered, and the conditions on which the was made, and a unanimous resolution of my Executive Council was passed that unless grant The conditions laid down by Sir RICHARD MACDONNELL were carried out, the grant should be withdrawn. A letter was written by the Colonial Secretary informing the Committee that (unless they would agree to modify the notice and abolish this distinction of nationality I would not be able to place the vote of $1,200 in the Estimates for 1880. Some correspondence took place. My bonourable friend, the Chairman of the Committee, knows a division took place in the Committee. I believe it is a matter of notoriety that the two leading members of the Committee were not in entire accord with my honourable friend; and that Mr. RYRIE and Mr. SASSOON took a somewhat different view to that taken by my honourable friend, and, I think, three other members. I think it well for the whole of the community to understand exactly who are the gentlemen who have een moving in this matter and what they have done. Mr. RYRIE was the sole trustee, and when the discussion took place in the Executive Council-I now state the fact, but I believe it was well known before-the Acting Attorney General said Mr. RYRIE was the only gentleman there who had anything to do with the legal estate. He is the only gentleman responsible to the Government, and my attention was called to the fact that Sir RICHARD MACDONNELL not only laid down very proper conditions, which have been violated, but that he also gave instructions as to whom the money should be paid. Here again I find an official paper. I can assure my honourable friend it is not a private paper-it is in every sense a public paper.
Honourable W. KESWICK-Was that sent with the others?
His EXCELLENCY--It was sent some months ago to the City Hall Committee with the others. it was read at the meeting of the Committee. A communication was made as to the City Hall expenses, and Sir RICHARD MACDONNELL'S Minute was this-
Mr. AUSTIN,-As this expenditure is regularly provided for in the Estimates of the current "year, I see no objection to payment of the money to the Trustees, as requested by Mr. RENNIE.
"R. G. MacDONNELL,
"11th May, 1869.” Therefore, I was not only acting on the advice of my legal adviser as to paying the money to the trustee, but I was acting in accordance with the only precedent put before ine showing any minute of the Governor with respect to the person to whom the money was to be pail. As I mentioned, two of the members of the Committee, my honourable friend here on my right (Mr. RYRIE) and Mr.. SASSOON, were disposed to think it would be better to abolish this invidious notice about nationalities, but there were three other gentlemen, I understand, who supported my honourable friend (Mr. KESWICK). They attended the Public Meeting at least some of them-and therefore I have no hesitation in mentioning their names. They are Mr. HOPPIUS, Mr. FORBES and Mr. RUTTUNJEE. I believe at the Meeting at which the division took place and the proposal to come to terms with the Government was rejected by a majority of one, my honourable friend was in the chair, Messrs. HoPPIUS, FORBES and RUTTUNJEE Voting against Messrs. RYE and SASSOON. Now, a good deal has been said about the City Hall Committee and the action of the Government. I think I had better read, for the information of the Council, a passage from Her Majesty's instructions, which Her Majesty was rariously pleased to address to me, and which, as the Council will at once see, governs, in spirit, every transaction of this kind. In the Queen's instructions I am told, with respect to the work of this Council, that is the legislation of the Colony--
"You are not to assent in Our rune to any Bill whereby persons not of European birth or "descent may be subjected or made liable to any disabilities or restrictions to which persons of
European birth or descent are not also subjected or made liable."
Her Majesty declares that I am rendered incapable of giving my assent to any such bill. The Royal mission and Royal instructions give the Governor of a Crown Colony a good deal of power, 10 abt, but for reasons which Her Majesty and the Queen's advisers thoroughly understand the ivantages of, the Governor is precluded from giving his assent to any such bill. Now, the Royal structions are the chief g
guide of the conduct of a Governor of a Colony, and in accordance with the int of that clause I see that Sir RICHARD MACDONNELL acted as a loyal Governor when he insisted
n that condition, and gave effect in that condition he imposed on the Committce to the cause of instructions I have read. Is it to be said that Mr. HOPPIUS, and Mr. Fouses, and Mr. RUTTUNJEE to teach the Governor of this Colony on this all important question of the relations between sons of European birth and those not of European birth? That, indeed, these gentlemen are to et the conditions framed by Governor MACDONNELL and instruct the present Governor how he is to get the Government with respect to the Queen's subjects? Perhaps Mr. HOPPIUS may say, "What lo I care about Queen Victoria's instructions? The conduct of the Governor may be in accordance
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