1867-06-17 — Page 1

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG. No. 4 OF 1867.

MONDAY, 17TH JUNE, 1867.

PRESENT:

His Excellency Governor SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, C.B. The Honorable the Chief Justice (JOHN SMALE.)

The Honorable the Acting Colonial Secretary (HENRY JOHN BALL.) The Honorable the Attorney General (JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE.)

The Honorable the Colonial Treasurer (F. H. A. FORTH).

The Honorable JAMES WHITTALL.

The Honorable H. B. GIBB.

ABSENT:

The Honorable the Auditor General (W. H. RENNIE)

The Honorable JOHN DENT.

The Council meets this day, at half-past 2 o'clock by Special Summons, no Meeting having taken place on the 4th Instant, to which the Council was adjourned.

The Minutes of the Council held on the 22nd ultimo, are read and confirmed.

The Bill "for better securing the Health of Emigrants in Chinese Passenger Ships" being brought forward for the second reading, The Honorable JAMES WHITTALL moves, with leave of His Excellency The Governor, that Legislation on the subject of Emigration is not advisable, and that consideration of the Bill before the Council be not proceeded with.

The Honorable the Chief Justice seconds the motion.

Debate ensues,—and as it appears that the mover and seconder do not object to the provisions of the Bill whilst Emigration is permitted, but to the permission of any Chinese Emigration from Hongkong, it is suggested by His Excellency that a more suitable mode of conveying their views to Her Majesty's Government would be the transmission of a Memorial setting forth the arguments of those Members who entertained that opinion, as Chinese Emigration had been already made the subject of previous Ordinances, and was dealt with by Imperial Legislation and by Treaties, which the Council could not reach.

The Honorable JAMES WHITTALL and the Honorable The Chief Justice agree in that suggestion, and the motion is accordingly withdrawn.

The Bill is then read a second time, and committed; and certain amendments being agreed to, the Bill is passed, bearing the Title of "An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, for better securing the Health of Emigrants in Chinese Passenger Ships clearing from Hongkong," being "No. 6 of 1867."

The Bill "to amend the Law of Partnership" is read a second time, amended in Committed, and passed, bearing the Title of "An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, to

amend the Law of Partnership," being "No. 7 of 1867."

The Bill "to resume Possession of the Mahomedan Cemetery" is read a second time, committed, and amended; and the same having gone through Committee, is passed, bearing the Title of "An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, for enabling Her Majesty to resume possession of the Mahomedan Cemetery," being "No. 8 of 1867."

The Bill "for checking the Spread of certain Contagious Diseases" is read a second time; and on going into Committee for the consideration of this Bill, it is moved by His Excellency and unanimously agreed to, that a Special Committee be appointed to examine into this Bill, and report thereon to the Council at its next Meeting.

His Excellency then names the Chief Justice, the Acting Colonial Secretary, the Colonial Treasurer, and Mr. GIBB, to be Members of the Committee.

His Excellency lays on the Table a Bill "to make further provision for the maintenance of Order and Cleanliness," and explains that except as to omission of one Section, the Bill is virtually the same as Ordinance No. 8 of last Year, and has already received the assent of Her Majesty's Government, except as to the omitted Section, and one or two minor provisions, which His Excellency points out in Sections III, IX and XXI.

The Bill is then read a first time; and the Council agreeing to a suspension of the Standing Orders, the Bill is read a second time, committed and passed, bearing the Title of "An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, to make further Provision for the maintenance of Order and Cleanliness within the Colony of Hongkong," being "No. 9 of 1867."

His Excellency then adjourns the Council at 5 Minutes to 5 P.M. to Thursday, the 20th Instant, at half-past 3 o'clock.

RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, Governor. Read and confirmed, this 20th Day of June, 1867

L. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,

Clerk of Councils.