723120-1858-GOVERNMENT-NOTIFICATION — Page 1

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The Hongkong Government Gazettę.

[OCTOBER 9, 1855.

Read Letter, of the 19th July last, from Mr Parsons to His Excellency the Governor, calling in question t accuracy of the Minutes of Council of the 6th July, respecting the reprimand which he received from th Governor, and the order to withdraw from the Bar,-as read and approved at the Meeting of the 12th Jul and since published in the Government Gazette of the 17th July,

Mr Dent here observed, that it was perfectly within his recollection that Mr Parsons did present himself at the h

of this Council on the 6th July; which was confirmed by other Members.

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Read Letter, of the 21st July last, from Mr Woods to His Excellency the Governor in Council, calling attention t two Letters, in which his name appears, in the Daily Press of the previous day, signed severally by M Parsons and Mr Gaskell, and stating "that the remark he made to Mr Gaskell was to the effect, that th number of intelligent gentlemen who put their names to the Petition would not have done so without good and sufficient reasons, and that he did not think the amalgamation' would injure 'fair dealing and respectabl Attornies." That "this remark Mr Parsons has wrested into quite another form, to suit his own purposes, and he (Mr Woods) again emphatically denies that Mr Parsons ever asked him any question on the subject." His Excellency the Governor stated, that the Votes and Proceedings of each Meeting of the Council will be

published in the Government Gazette next after their approval in Council; and such delayed publication wa unanimously agreed to.

The Governor read Despatch No. 128, of 10th November, 1856, from the Secretary of State, conveying the sanction of Her Majesty's Government to the construction of the Bowring Praya,-" provided it is ascertained that the available balance to the Credit of the Colonial Treasury will fully suffice to defray the requisite Exper diture, together with that of the other Public Works already sanctioned." His Excellency then called upon the Acting Colonial Secretary for a Statement of the Funds at present available for such Public Works; whe that Officer reported, that the Sum of £19,741.12.3 was in the Banks at Interest to the Credit of the Public Works, exclusive of the Parliamentary Vote towards the erection of a Gaol and Civil Hospital, amounting t £7,000.

The Governor stated, that the recent exodus of the Chinese Population, and the flight of the Opium Monopolis: from the Colony, necessitated several alterations in the Colonial Estimates for 1859, as originally prepared in July last; that they were now under revision, and would, at no distant period, be submitted to the Council But that at the next Meeting, he proposed to bring forward a Supplementary Estimate, to be charged upon the surplus Revenue of the current Year.

His Excellency stated that, in consequence of the illness and subsequent death of Mr Day, who had been appointed Acting Attorney General, the preparation of an Ordinance to correct “the careless manner" in which, as pointed out by the Secretary of State, some of the Imperial Acts were extended to this Colony by Ordinance No. 5 of 1858, had been delayed; but that the present Acting Attorney General was actually engaged in drawing up the needful Ordinance for submission to the Council.

The Governor reported, that the Secretary of State had recently required his opinion upon the proposal for the transfer to the local Government of the control of the Post-office in Hongkong; and that the necessary enquiries were being made, in order to enable him to come to a decision upon the subject.

Read a first time a Draft Ordinance for the Regulation of Chinese Passenger Ships.

Ordered, that the said Ordinance be published in the Government Gazette, inviting Observations thereon; and that

it be read a second time, on Friday, the 15th instant.

Resolved, that this Council do adjourn to Friday next, the 8th instant, at 12 o'clock precisely.

Read and approved, this 8th Day of October, 1858.

L. D'ALMADA e Castro,

Clerk of Councils.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

JOHN BOWRING,

Governor.

The subjoined Draft Ordinance, which was read a first time at a Meeting of the Legislative Council held ou the 4th instant, is published for general information; and it is hereby requested, that any Observations thereon may be sent in to the Undersigned, on or before the 12th instant.

By Order,

Council Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 6th October, 1858.

L. D'ALMADA E CASTRO, Clerk of Councils.

HONGKONG.'

ANNO VIGESIMO SECUNDO VICTORIE REGINÆ.

No. of 1858.

By His Excellency SIR JOHN BOWRING, Knight, LL.D., Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary and Chief Superintendent of the Trade of British Subjects in China, with the Advice of the Legislative Council of Hongkong.

An Ordinance for the continuance of the heretofore existing Regulations respecting Chinese Passenger Ships; and in the case of British Ships, respecting the Treatment of the Passengers therein while at Sea, ant for making Regulations in addition thereto.

[ October, 1858.]

Whereas it is desirable to make further Provision, in addition to that made by the Chinese Passengeri Act, 1855, for the Regulation of Chinese Passengers' Ships, and in the case of British Ships, for the Treat- ment of the Passengers therein while at Sea, with a view to the better securing the Health of Passengers such Ships: Be it enacted and ordained, by His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-