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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 4TH JUNE, 1879.
MEETING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
The following Report, extracted from the Daily Press, is published for general information.
A meeting of the Legislative Council was held on Thursday, the 29th May. There were present:→→
His Excellency Governor J. POPE HENNESSY, C.M.G. Honourable Sir JOHN SMALE, (Chief Justice). Honourable W. H. MARSH, (Colonial Secretary). Honourable J. RUSSELL, (Acting Attorney General). Honourable M. S. TONNOCHY, (Colonial Treasurer). Honourable P. RYRIE.
Honourable W. KESWICK,
Honourable J. M. PRICE.
Honourable H. B. GIBB.
MINUTES.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.
NEW MEMBERS AND THE LATE MR. MAY,
His EXCELLENCY said :-Gentlemen, I have to swear in Mr. TONNOCHY as Treasurer, and my honourable friend Mr. GIBB as an unofficial member of the Council, but in doing so I think it is my duty to express, and I only re-echo what you all feel, my deep sense of the loss the Council has sustained in the death of Mr. MAY, which has taken place since the last meeting, causing one of the vacancies I had to fill up. His death is one that every one in this Colony has felt as a most serious loss to the whole community. He was, indeed, for the time he sat at this Council table, the most experienced official sitting at it. He was the oldest resident of all the members, and I am bound to say that during the whole of the time I had the honour of his acquaintance, indeed of his friendship, his great experience, his natural ability, his straightforward and honest disposition, and his thorough loyalty to the Government, all rendered him one of my most useful officers and one of the most useful members of Council. With respect to the other vacancy, it is caused by the resignation of Mr. Lowcock, and for that I have selected my honourable friend Mr. GIBB, and although Mr. GIBB is present I must take the opportunity of saying I believe it would be quite impossible for me or any other Governor to choose any gentleman in this community better fitted for a seat at this Council.
Honou able H. B. GIBB acknowledged His Excellency's remarks.
Mr. TONNOCHY and Mr. GIBB were then formally sworn in.
THE SHIPPING ACTS.
His EXCELLENCY.---Gentlemen, I find upon the Order of to-day, No. 1, the Merchant Shipping Consolidation Bill, the second reading; 2, the Survey of Steamships and Boilers Bill. On referring to the minutes of the Legislative Council of the 29th April, 1878, I find that the Steamship Survey and Regulation Ordinance was referred to a Select Committee consisting of the Acting Chief Justice, the Acting Colonial Treasurer, the Attorney General, and the three unofficial members of Council.--His Excellency read the minute, which went on to state that the Merchant Shipping Consolidation Bill, which included the provisions of the other Bill, was referred to the same Committee, and gave a summary of His Excellency's remarks on the Bills. His Excellency proceeded:-On the 21st November, 1878, Mr. MAY, who was then Acting Colonial Secretary, received the following letter:-
Hongkong, 21st November, 1878.
SIR,In response to a notice issued by the Government some five months since, we appeared before the Committee on the New Shipping Bill, and gave our views upon certain sections of it.
It is of considerable importance to Shipowners, who have vessels trading from ports in China to Hongkong, to know as soon as possible how the Act will affect their interests, and as a considerable period has elapsed since the Bill was referred to the Committee, we respectfully beg that you will afford us such information as lies in your power regarding the probable date when the Bill is likely to come again before the Legislative Council...
To the Honourable CHARLES MAY,
Acting Colonial Secretary,
ye..
&C., fc.
We have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servants,
BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE,
I find on the back of this letter the following minute of mine:-
Minute by His Excellency the Governor.
Please let me know the cause of this long delay in the proceeding and report of the Select Committee,
25th November, 1878.
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