112
The Hongkong Government Gazette.
[DECEMBER 11, 1858.
Ordered, that the said Protest be entered upon the Minutes. The Chairman of the Select Committee, which had been appointed, on the 8th October last, to report the Conditions upon which the Colonial Government might properly take charge of the Post-Office at Hongkong, brought up the following Report,-
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG.
EXTRACT FROM VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS.
Friday 8th October,”
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The Governor recommended that a Committee, consisting of the Acting Colonial Secretary and two non-Official Members of this Council, should be appointed to report the conditions upon which the Colonial Governinent might properly take charge of the Post Office at Hongkong.
"Whereupon, it was moved by the Chief Magistrate, and seconded by the Surveyor General, that Mr Jardine and Mr Lyall, with the Acting Colonial Secretary, be appointed a Committee to report the Conditions upon which the Colonial Government night properly take charge of the Post Office at Hongkong.
"Me Lyall objecting to his noinination on the ground that he had already served in the recent Caldwell Inquiry Commission, which had
absorbed much of his time;→
"It was moved by the Chief Magistrate, seconded by the Surveyor General, and unanimously agreed to,-that Mr Lyall be excused;
and that such Committee do consist of the Acting Colonial Secretary, Mr Jardine, and Mr Dent."
Your Committee having met, pursuant to the above Resolution, on the 8th and 21st of October, and on the 1st ultimo, and having had before them the correspondence enumerated in the margin which passed in 1855, between the Post-Master General in England, the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, and the Colonial Department, with regard to the transfer of the IIongkong Post- Office from Imperial to Local control.
Your Committee have now to report to Your Excellency and Council, that after a careful consideration of the arrangement proposed, in July 1855, by the Post-Master General (Lord Canning), they are of opinion that the Government of Hongkong-upon assuming the control of the Post-Office here-would only be entitled " to One Penny, out of the uniform rate of Sixpence, per Single "Letter, which is now charged upon Colonial Correspondence to and from the United Kingdom, and on the other hand that this
Colony would be required to bear all the expenses of its Post-Office, now defrayed by the General Post-Office in England."
And your Committee have ascertained from the Acting Post-Master at Hongkong, that One Penny per Single Letter to and from the United Kingdom, would only yield a Revenue of £816.11.9 per Annum, whereas the maintenance of the Post-Office amounts to £3,505 per Anaum, shewing thereby a clear loss to the Colony of £2,688.8.3 if the proposal of the Post-Master General were enter- tained.
Under these circumstances, as stated above, your Committee have to certify to your Excellency and Council, against the proposed transfer of the Post-Office at Hongkong from Imperial to Local control.
But your Committee, auxious, if possible, to meet the views of the Home Authorities, would beg to submit that the concessions by the General Post Office in England, of
(1.) A One Penny rate to the Local Government on all Letters to and from England.
(2) A One Penny rate on all Foreign Letters to and from Hongkong, passing through England.
(3.) A One Penny rate on all Letters to and from India by the Contract Mail Packets.
(4) Together with the abandonment to the Local Treasury of the full Postage on all Ship Letters, as well as on those tʊ and
from the Consular Ports; and.
(5.) Of all Fees on "Late Letters."
Your Committee have to remark that these concessions might have induced your Committee to report less unfavorably upon the contemplated transfer.
Your Com nittee would therefore suggest, that a Despatch embodying the above proposals be submitted, with the concurrence of Your Excellency and Council, for the consideration of the Home Government.
In conclusion, your Committee would beg to state for the information of Your Excellency and Council, that in arriving at theso opinions, every assistance and information they could desire has been afforded them by the Acting Post Master at longkong.
·
FRED. FORTII J JARDINE. JOHN DENT.
14th July, 17th October, and 27th August 1855.
And the same having been read, and roccived, The Aeting Governor put thỏ Question, that tho said Report be adopted by this Council. Question put, and passed.
The Acting Governor stated, that he could not proceed to the second reading of the Ordinance for the erection of a Public Way, along the Water Frontage of the City of Victoria, (as was agreed upon at the last Meeting,) for such reading would be in contravention of the 29th Clause of the Standing Orders and Rules for the Legis- lative Council of Hongkong, which stands thus:-"When any Ordinance shall be proposed whereby vested rights and interests of property will be unavoidably affected, due Notice shall be given to all Parties concerned by Notification in the Government Gazette, One Month before the first reading of such Ordinance; "and such Notification shall appear at least Three Times in the said Gazette; and, before going into Committee
on the said Ordinance, the same shall be published Three Times in the said Gazette.”
Whereupon, it was unanimously resolved, that the Proceedings of this Council, of the 21st October and 1st November last, in regard to the said Ordinance, be cancelled, and that consideration of the same he had at the expiration of One Month from the present date.
The following Notification was then unanimously agreed to, and ordered to be published in to-day's Government
Gazette:
"GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
"It is hereby notified, that the Government Notification of 23d October last, wherein was intimated the first reading of An Ordinance to provide for the erection of a Public Way, along the Water Frontage of the City of Victoria,' is cancelled by advice of the Legislative Council; and The Honourable The Acting Governor directs it to be made known to all concerned, that in conformity with Clause XXIX of the Standing Orders under which the Council is ruled, (vide Government Gazette of 17th July last,) the said Ordinance will be considered at the expiration of One Month from the present date."
"By Order,”
"Council Chamber, Victoria, Hongkong, 4th December, 1858.”
"Clerk of Councils."
The Ordinance for defraying the Charges of the Colonial Government for the Year 1859, was read a second time,- And the Council went into Committee upon the Estimates for the said Year. The various items for the expense of the several Establishments were agreed to.
It was moved by the Colonial Secretary, seconded by Mr Lyall, and carried unanimously,-That a Sum not exceed- ing 25,000 be added to the Estimates for the purpose of immediately carrying out engagements long since entered into between the Government and certain Marine Lot-holders, for the completion of the Public Way in course of construction in front of their respective Lots, and also for extending the said Works in front of the Central Market.
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