1859-12-26 — Page 1

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG.

No. 11 of 1859.

MONDAY, 26th DECEMBER, 1859.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR and all the Members, except MR. JARDINE, absent on account of press of business.

The Council met to-day, pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Council were read and approved.

MR. LYALL, one of the Members of the Select Committee appointed to consider the Civil List Bill for Hongkong, brought up their Report, which was read. The Report was as follows :-

"COUNCIL CHAMBER, Monday, 26th December, 1859.

"We, the Members of a Committee of the Legislative Council, appointed on 21st November last, 'to consider the proposed Ordinance to grant a Civil List to Her 'Majesty for the Colony of Hongkong and to report thereon to the Council,' having fully considered the same, do now report :-

"That at our first meeting, when taking the whole bearing of the Ordinance into consideration and viewing it as means of fixing definitely the Salaries of the several Chief Officers of Government for a lengthened period, it became apparent to us that at the present time, when everything in regard to expenditure in this Colony is in a most unsettled state, it is impossible to fix such a scale of salaries as would for years to come be both a proper remuneration to the several Officers, and just to the Government itself.

"That, should His Excellency the Governor sec fit to postpone the further consideration of the proposed Ordinance granting a Civil List until the end of next year, we are of opinion that the Council will then probably be in a much better position to arrive at a correct view of this matter.

"That it appears to us beyond question that the Salaries of most of the Chief Officers of Government, from His Excellency the Governor downwards, should be increased; but, for the reasons before given, we are not at present prepared to state the amount of increase.

"That it has been shewn to us by some of the Officers of Government, that the Salaries which they at present receive are wholly inadequate for their proper maintenance in the position which they ought to hold, and that we consider the case so urgent in respect to them, that we would recommend their Salaries to be at once increased.

"That the Officers to whom we allude are :-

The Registrar of the Supreme Court, whose salary we would recommend should be increased to £800 per annum.

The Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court, whose salary we would recommend should be increased to £450 per annum.

The Accountant in the Surveyor General's Office and Clerk of Deed Registry, whose salary we would recommend should be increased to £500 per annum.

"And finally, that it appears to us that the Salary of £150 per annum at

present paid to the Crown Solicitor is quite inadequate for the duties performed by him, and we would recommend that it be at once increased to £300 per annum."

"J. JARDINE."

"JOHN DENT."

"GEO. LYALL."

The Bill, entitled "An Ordinance to authorize the appropriation of a Supplementary Sum not exceeding Four Thousand Pounds to defray the charges of the year 1859," was read a second time;

And the Council went into Committee upon the Supplementary Estimates for the said Year.

The following Votes were then agreed to :-

£ s. d.

Governor's Establishment,…………………………. 792 6 10 Auditor General's Establishment,………………….. 274 6 2 Registrar General's Establishment,………………… 12 6 9 Medical Establishment,…………………………….. 404 12 3 Police,………………………………………………. 1,568 4 4 Pensions, Retired Allowances, and Gratuities,…….. 262 3 10 Transport,…………………………………………… 506 13 4 Special Expenses,…………………………………... 148 1 7 Total,……………………. £3,968 15 1

The appropriation Bill being in accordance with the foregoing Votes, His Excellency The Governor put the Question, - That this Bill do pass, and that the Title be, - "An Ordinance to authorize the appropriation of a Supplementary Sum not exceeding Four Thousand Pounds to defray the charges of the year 1859."

Question put and passed, - the Ordinance being numbered "No. 5 of 1859." Ordered, that the said Ordinance be published in the next Government Gazette.

The Bill, entitled "An Ordinance for providing Hospital accommodation on board Chinese Passenger Ships, and for the Medical Inspection of the Passengers about to proceed to Sea in such Ships," was read a second time;

And the Council went into Committee upon the said Ordinance.

Section 1 was agree to.

Section 2 was discussed, amended, and agreed to.

Section 3 was discussed, amended, and agreed to.

Section 4 agreed to.

Section 5 was discussed, and agreed to.

Sections 6 and 7 were agreed to.

The Preamble was read and amended.

The Title was amended.

The Council having agreed to the amendments made in Committee, The Governor put the Question – That this Bill do pass, and that the Title be – "An Ordinance for

providing Hospital accommodation on board Chinese Passenger Ships, and for the Medical Inspection of the Passengers and Crews about to proceed to Sea in such Ships."

Question put and carried, the Ordinance being numbered "No. 6 of 1859." Ordered, that the said Ordinance be published in the next Government Gazette.

The Bill, entitled "An Ordinance to amend the Provisions of Ordinance No. 8 of 1858, respecting the Deportation of Mendicants," was read a second time;

And the Council went into Committee upon the said Ordinance

Section 1 was agree to.

Section 2 was amended, and agreed to.

Preamble agreed to.

The Bill having gone through Committee, The Governor put the Question, - That this Bill do pass, and that the Title be – "An Ordinance to amend the Provisions of Ordinance No. 8 of 1858, respecting the Deportation of Mendicants."

Question put and passed, - the Ordinance being numbered "No. 7 of 1859." Ordered, that the said Ordinance be published in the next Government Gazette. The Council then adjourned sine die.

HERCULES G. R. ROBINSON,

Governor.

Read and approved, this 20th Day of February, 1860.

L. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,

Clerk of Councils.