1855-07-16 — Page 1

Minutes of the Legislative Council of Hongkong
for the half year ending 31st December 1855

____________________

16th July, 1855.

Present:

His Excellency The Governor

The Honorable The Chief Justice

The Honorable The Acting Attorney General

The Honorable C. B. Hillier, Esqre

The Honorable J. F. Edger, Esqre

The Council met today by Special Summons.

The Minutes of the last Council were read and approved.

Read, and ordered to be recorded, the following Minute of Dissent by the Acting Attorney-General:

Ordinance No. 5 of 1855, entitled "An Ordinance to repeal Ordinance No. 6 of 1854, entitled 'An Ordinance to provide for the disposal of unclaimed Balances of the Estates of Persons dying intestate within the Colony of Hongkong,' and to substitute other Provisions in lieu thereof."

My reasons for voting against the passing of this Ordinance are as follow: -

1stly Because I am of opinion that if any benefit is to be derived from the unclaimed Estates of Persons dying in a Colony, such benefit should accrue to the Colony, and not to the Imperial Government, especially where a Colony is, as this Colony at the present moment, self-supporting.

2ndly Because by the remittance of unclaimed Estates to the Imperial Government, any claimant who may assert a claim thereto after the expiration of six years, will be put to additional expense, delay, and inconvenience in consequence of the Assets being in a country far removed from the place where all information relating to such Assets is to be obtained.

3rdly Because I consider the Legislative Council have by this Ordinance endeavored to avoid responsibility by transferring their Duties to the Imperial Government"

(Signed) William Thomas Bridges,

Member of the Legislative Council, and

Acting Attorney General.

June 14th 1855.

The Governor informed the Council that, in pursuance of instructions from the Secretary of State for the Colonies received by the last mail, the government of the Colony how reverted to his sole charge, and that, accordingly, the Lieutenant Governor will administer the government only in His Excellency's absence.

Read a first time, and ordered to be amended, the Draft Ordinance "for the amendment of the Civil Administration of Justice". The Acting Attorney General to make the necessary amendments, and a Copy of the Ordinance, as amended, to be sent to each Member.

It was Resolved that this Council do meet on Monday, the 30th instant, by special summons.

(Signed) John Bowring,

Governor.

Read and approved this 7th day of August, 1855.

(Signed) L. d'Almada e Castro,

Clerk of Councils.