1868-05-22 — Page 1

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG.

No. 3 OF 1868.

FRIDAY, 22ND May, 1868.

PRESENT:

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

The Honorable the Acting Attorney General (HENRY JOHN BALL.) The Honorable the Acting Colonial Treasurer (W. H. ALEXANDER.) The Honorable the Auditor General (W. H. RENNIE.)

The Honorable PHINEAS RYRIE.

The Honorable WILLIAM KESWICK.

The Honorable J. P. DUNCANSON.

The Council meets this day at 3 P.M., by special Summons.

The Minutes of the Council held on the 5th Instant, are read and confirmed.

His Excellency The Governor administers to the Honorable JOHN GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary, who is in attendance, the Oath of Office as a Member of this Council; and that Officer takes his seat at the Board accordingly.

The Bill for the more effectual Suppression of Piracy is read a second time, amended in Committee, and passed; bearing the Title of – "An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, to make Provision for the more effectual Suppression of Piracy, "- being "No. 1 of 1868."

The Bill to enable the Governor to co-operate with the Chinese Authorities for the Suppression of Piracy is read a second time, discussed in Committee, amended, and passed, bearing the Title of – "An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council, thereof, to enables the Governor to co-operate with the Chinese Authorities for the Suppression of Piracy, "- being "No. 2 of 1868."

The Bill to empower the Supreme Court to direct Offenders to be whipped and to be kept in Solitary confinement in certain specified cases, is read a second time, amended in Committee, and passed, bearing the Title of – "An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, to empower the Supreme Court to direct Offenders to be whipped and to be kept in Solitary Confinement in certain specified cases, "- being "No. 3 of 1868."

The Bill for the Establishment of a Fire Brigade being brought forward for the second reading, the Honorable WILLIAM KESWICK moves that the second reading of the Bill on the Table be postponed.

Whereupon Debate ensuing, -

His Excellency reads and lays before the Council a Memorandum of His Excellency dated the 13th January last, and also Report of a Committee appointed on the

3rd December, 1867, on the part of the Insurance Offices, to consider the feasibility of organizing a local Fire Brigade.

His Excellency also reads an Extract from a Despatch of His Grace the Secretary of State, - No. 56 of the 17th March last.

At this stage of the Proceedings, the Honorable WILLIAN KESWICK withdraws his motion, and the Bill is read a second time.

The Council then goes into Committee upon the Clauses of the said Bill, 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 the Establishment of a Fire Brigade, "- being "No. 4 of 1868."

The Bill to amend "The Stamp Ordinance, 1866" is read a second time, and committed; and Article 7 of the Schedule, annexed thereto, being amended, the Bill is agreed to, and passed, bearing the Title of – "An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislatives Council thereof, to amend 'The Stamp Ordinance, 1866,' "- being "No. 5 of 1868."

His Excellency adjourns the Council at 6 o'clock till to-morrow, the 23rd instant, at 4 P.M.

RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL,

Governor.

Read and confirmed, this 23rd Day of May, 1868.

L. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,

Clerk of Councils.