1853-08-16 — Page 1

Minutes of the Legislative Council of Hongkong
for the half year ending 31st December, 1853

____________

16th August, 1853.

Present:

His Excellency The Governor

The Honorable The Chief Justice

The Honorable The Colonial Treasurer

The Honorable David Jardine, Esqre

The Honorable J. F. Edger, Esqre

The Council met today by Special Summons.

The Honorable the Attorney General was present as Legal Adviser to the Government.

The Minutes of the last Council were read and approved.

The Draft Ordinance for the Regulation of the Colonial Jail which had been previously sent round to Members, was read a first time and revised; and the same course was adopted with regard to the Draft Regulations appended thereto.

Consideration was given to a letter of the 1st April last, from the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales, transmitting an attested Copy of a Proclamation issued by The Governor General Sir Charles FitzRoy, on the 31st January, 1853, announcing that effect has been given in that Colony to the provisions of the Imperial Act 15 and 16, Victoria, Cap. 44, intituled "An Act to amend and consolidate the Laws relating to the carriage of Passengers by Sea," and stating that the Proclamation is sent to Hongkong to meet the contingency contemplated in the 85th Section of the Act and, further, requesting that a copy of any such Proclamation which may have been issued by the Governor of Hongkong, be supplied for the use of the Government of New South Wales.

It was agreed, that the Proclamation sent from New South Wales should be recorded as Evidence in the archives of the Colonial Secretary's office, and that the Colonial Secretary be instructed to notify the same to the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales, declaring at the same time that no similar Proclamation has been issued at Hongkong, owing to the Island being surrounded by so many out-ports within the Dominions of the Emperor of China, a circumstance which renders it impracticable to make any such Provisions available here. The Colonial Secretary to give an answer similar to the foregoing, to the Colonial Secretary of Van Diemen's Land, who on the 28th of April last, made a like communication to this Government.

Read and considered a letter, of the 23rd February last, to the Governor from Mr. William Joseph Curtis of London, Civil Engineer, enclosing a Petition from the same gentleman to His Excellency in Council, praying that he may be granted Letters Patent for the Colony of Hongkong, for a term of 14 years for his invention for "Improvements in Tramways or Railroads and carriages to run thereon".

Resolved, that the Colonial Secretary be directed to reply to Mr. Curtis, intimating that his letter with the Petition and Enclosures will be lodged amongst the Records of the Colonial Secretary's Office, as Papers strictly confidential; that there is no authority in the Colony to grant a Colonial Patent, and that the only Security to be afforded him would arise from the English Acts.

(Signed) S. G. Bonham.

Read and approved this 20th Day of September, 1853.

(Signed) L. d'Almada e Castro,

Clerk of Councils.