1869-09-24 — Page 1

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG. No. 3 OF 1869.

FRIDAY, 24TH SEPTEMBER, 1869.

PRESENT:

His Excellency Governor SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, C.B. The Honorable the Acting Chief Justice, (JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE.)

The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, (JOHN GARDINER AUSTIN.) The Honorable the Colonial Treasurer (FREDERICK H. A. FORTH.)

The Honorable H. B. GIBB.

The Honorable WILLIAM KESWICK.

The Honorable JAMES B. TAYLOR.

The Honorable R. ROWETT

ABSENT:

The Honorable the Acting Attorney General, (EDWARD H. POLLARD, Q.C.) The Honorable the Auditor General (W. H. RENNIE); Both absent on leave.

The Council meets this day at 3 P.M., pursuant to adjournment.

The minutes of the Council held on the 17th Instant, are read and confirmed.

His Excellency states that he had made a further improvement in the Estimates for 1870, by which, in addition to grouping together all items to be voted for each Establishment, a fresh column had been inserted, shewing in detail the amount defrayed from the Civil List, as well as the gross total Expenditure of the Civil List and proposed votes. Thus each Member would hereafter have before him at once the total contemplated real Expenditure of each Department which he never had before, because hitherto the Estimates had only shewn in various and scattered pages the amount of the annual votes. It was important, however, to keep the total Expense contemplated more prominently and more intelligibly before the Council. His Excellency then lays the new form of Estimates on the Table.

The Bills, which were read a first time at the last Meeting, are then brought forward, and on His Excellency inviting the Council to a consideration of them,—

The Honorable H. B. GIBB, leave being obtained, says :—

I would wish Your Excellency before proceeding further to business to refer to some articles that have lately appeared in a portion of the Public Press, and to express on behalf of my Brother non-official Members as well as myself our great regret that attacks of so personal a nature should have been made upon Your Excellency.

While wishing to see free and full discussion upon the Estimates or other public matters, we cannot too strongly deprecate the abusive personal attacks which have lately characterized many of the writings of the "Press," and would beg to assure Your Excellency that we do not in any way share in the opinions set forth in the articles alluded to.

His Excellency acknowledges the kindly expression of opinion tendered by the Honorable Member on his own behalf and that of his Colleagues, and having at some length remarked on, and illustrated the gross ignorance which specially characterized the scurrilous articles alluded to in the "Daily Press," directs resumption of the business before the Council.

Whereupon,—The Bill relative to the Vacation of the Supreme Court, 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 further provision in relation to the Vacation of the Supreme Court, and the Transaction of Business during the same in certain Cases,"—being "No. 1 of 1869."

The Bill relating to the Construction of Buildings and Prevention of Nuisances is discussed, and it is agreed that the second Reading thereof be deferred to a subsequent Meeting of the Council.

The Bill relating to Criminal Procedure 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 further Provision in relation to Criminal Law and Procedure,"— being "No. 2 of 1869."

The Bill for granting Licenses to distil Spirits 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 His Excellency the Governor in Council to grant Licenses for the Distillation of Spirits, and the Rectifying and Compounding thereof within the Colony,"— being "No. 3 of 1869."

The Bill relating to Promissory Oaths 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 amend the Law relating to "Promissory Oaths,"—being "No. 4 of 1869."

The Bill for the relief of Colonial Seamen is read a second time, committed, and passed with certain verbal amendments,—bearing the Title of " An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, to provide for the Payment out of the Revenue of the Colony of Expenses incurred in the Relief of Distressed British Seamen belonging to Ships registered in this Colony,"—being "No. 5 of 1869."

The Bill relating to Suppression of Piracy 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 amend the 'The Ordinance for the Suppression of Piracy (Hongkong),1868.' "—being "No. 6 of 1869."

The Bill for dealing with Moral Claims to confiscated Funds 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 Governor in Council to deal with Moral Claims to Funds confiscated for Colonial Purposes,"—being "No. 7 of 1869."

The Bill relating to Police Pensions 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, for amending the Law relating to the Granting of Pensions and other Allowances to the Police Force,"—being "No. 8 of 1869."

The Bill to recover Crown Debts under Five hundred Dollars is read a second time, committed, and passed,—bearing the Title of "An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with, the Advice of tile Legislative Council thereof, to empower the Colonial Treasurer to recover in the Court of Summary Jurisdiction Crown Debts under Five hundred Dollars for Rent, and for certain Assessments and Fees,"—being "No. 9 of 1869."

His Excellency lays on the Table the Parliamentary Paper containing the 1868. Correspondence which passed between himself and The Secretary of

H.C. 328 of

State for the Colonies in 1867, arising from a Memorial to His Excellency's address from Chief Justice SMALE and the Honorable JAMES WHITTALL, on the subject of Coolie Emigration from Hongkong. His Excellency next reads certain portions of the above Correspondence, and calls attention to a Despatch, No. 120 of 9th August, received by the last Mail from The Right Honorable Earl GRANVILLE, relative to the proceedings recently adopted by this Government in reference to Emigration to Peru. The above Despatch is then read, and in pursuance of His Lordship's instructions directing the introduction of an Ordinance for the control of Emigration from this Colony,—the following Bill is laid on the Table, and read a first time; namely: A Bill to make further Provision in relation to Emigration in Chinese Passenger Ships.

His Excellency adjourns the Council at 10 minutes before 6 o'clock till Thursday, the 30th Instant, at 2 P.M.

RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL,

Governor.

Read and confirmed, this 30th Day of September, 1869.

L. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,

Clerk of Councils.