LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NO. 6.
TUESDAY, 7TH MARCH, 1882.
PRESENT:
The Honourable the Acting Chief Justice, (FRANCIS SNOWDEN), President. " the Acting Colonial Secretary, (MALCOLM STRUAN TONNOCHY). " the Attorney General, (EDWARD LOUGHLIN O'MALLEY).
" the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (WALTER MEREDITH DEANE). " PHINEAS RYRIE.
" NG CHOY.
" FRANCIS BULKELEY JOHNSON.
ABSENT:
The Honourable WILLIAM KESWICK (on leave).
" JOHN MACNEILE PRICE (on leave).
" EMANUEL RAPHAEL BELILIOS (on leave).
The Minutes of the last Meeting of Council held on the 1st March, 1882, are read. The President puts the question that the Minutes be confirmed.
Mr. JOHNSON asks permission to make some observations on the Minutes of the 22nd February last, which were read and confirmed at the last meeting, at which he was not present, with reference to the remarks of His Excellency the Governor, on the Protest of the Honourable Member, dated the 13th February, and entered upon the Minutes of the 22nd February, 1882.
The President points out that the question before the Council is the confirmation of the Minutes.
The Attorney General addresses the Council.
Deliberation ensues, and it is agreed that Mr. JOHNSON may make any remarks he wishes after the Minutes just read have been confirmed.
The Minutes are then confirmed.
Mr. JOHNSON then, by permission, proceeds to remark at length on the statement recorded by the Clerk of Councils on the Minutes of the 22nd February, 1882, in connection with the Honourable Member's Protest of the 13th February, to the effect that His Excellency the Governor ruled that the Honourable Member was out of order in endeavouring, as a question of privilege, to enter into a discussion and quote a text book with reference to a ruling of the Chair on a former occasion some meetings ago, and that that statement as to his intention was not in accordance with facts.
The President remarks that the Clerk, in the Minutes of the 22nd February, simply says what the Governor said.
Mr. JOHNSON continues his address and concludes by adding that he wishes to have recorded, on the Minutes, his desire to correct any misapprehension that may arise out of the Minutes of the 22nd February, that on whatever grounds his motion may have been
out of order, it was not ruled out of order on any intention on his part to quote a text book with reference to a ruling of the Chair on a former occasion some meetings ago, and proceeded to state what his intention was.
The Clerk of Councils reads Art. IV of the Letters Patent, dated the 9th April, 1877, passed under the great Seal of the United Kingdom, constituting the Office of Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong.
The President administers the Oaths of Office to the Administrator, the Hon. M. S. TONNOCHY.
His Excellency, having taken the Chair, proceeds to administer the Oaths of Office to the following gentlemen, who respectively take their seats at the table:—
The Honourable W. M. DEANE, as Acting Colonial Secretary; Mr. S. BARFF, as Acting Colonial Treasurer.
His Excellency the Administrator moves that the following vote to the QUEEN, in connection with the recent attempt upon Her Majesty's life, be telegraphed to the Secretary of State:—
This Council desires to convey through Lord KIMBERLEY, the deep indignation and concern with which it has heard of the last cowardly attack that has been made against the life of the QUEEN, and expresses its heartfelt congratulations that Her Most Gracious Majesty, by the interposition of a Divine Providence, escaped unhurt.
Mr. RYRIE seconds the motion.
Mr. JOHNSON addresses the Council, and suggests the postponement of the transmission of the message, until the news should be confirmed.
Deliberation ensues, and the motion is finally carried unanimously.
His Excellency adjourns the Council sine die.
W. H. MARSH,
Administrator.
Read and confirmed, this Twentieth day of April, 1882.
J. H, STEWART-LOCKHART,
Acting Clerk of Councils.
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