1870-09-09 — Page 1

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG. No. 9 OF 1870.

FRIDAY, 9TH SEPTEMBER, 1870.

PRESENT:

His Excellency Major-GeneralWHITFEILD, Lieutenant-Governor.

The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, (JOHN GARDINER AUSTIN.)

The Honorable the Attorney General, (JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE.)

The Honorable the Colonial Treasurer, (FREDERICK H.A.FORTH.)

The Honorable HENRY JOHN BALL.

The Honorable HUGH BOLD GIBB.

The Honorable PHINEAS RYRIE.

The Honorable WILLIAM KESWICK.

ABSENT:

The Honorable the Chief Justice, (JOHN SMALE.)

The Honorable the Auditor General, (WILLIAM H.RENNIE.)

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

The Minutes of the Council held on the 2nd instant, are read and confirmed.

The Council then resolves itself into a Committee, and resumes the discussion and consideration of the Bill relating to the Issue of Passes for Chinese, adjourned from the last Meeting.

Certain amendments being made, and several new Clauses introduced, the Bill is agreed to, and reported.

The Council adopts the amendments and additions made in Committee, and the Bill, as amended, is passed, bearing the Title of "An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, to amend and consolidate the Law in relation to the Issue of Passes for Chinese, and to provide for the better Security of the Residents of the Colony,"－being "No. 14 of 1870." The Honorable the Attorney General states that a vacancy has occurred amongst the Members of the Special Committee appointed on the 19th of August, to examine and report on the Bill

to amend the Law respecting Pawnbrokers, by reason of the HonorableRICHARD ROWETT having ceased to hold his Provisional Seat at this Council upon the return of the Honorable HENRY JOHN BALL.

Whereupon, His Excellency appoints The Honorable HUGH BOLD GIBB to be a Member of the said Committee, next after The Honorable The Attorney General.

His Excellency invites Honorable Members to a consideration of the Law as to the creation of Matsheds over Buildings under construction, and to the danger which may arise in case of fire to Buildings in the neighbourhood,－the subject having recently attracted public notice.

The Honorable The Attorney General draws attention to the Provisions of Ordinance No. 14 of 1845, Section 3 (Sub-section 1), and to Section 13 and the Interpretation Clauses of Ordinance No. 8 of 1856, whereby power is vested in any Person aggrieved, as well as in the Surveyor General as a Public Officer, to take Proceedings for the removal of any Sheds which are shown in case of fire to endanger any neighbouring Building.

After some discussion, the general Opinion of the Council is expressed in favor of leaving the Law applicable to such cases as it now stands.

His Excellency adjourns the Council at a quarter past 5 o'clock.

HENRY WASE WHITFEILD,

Major-General, and Lieutenant-Governor.

Read and confirmed, this 14th Day of October, 1870.

L. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,

Clerk of Councils.