1884-03-26 — Page 1

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL No. 5.

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WEDNESDAY, 26TH MARCH, 1884.

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PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(SIR GEORGE FERGUSON BOWEN, G.C.M.G.)

His Honour the Chief Justice, (SIR GEORGE PHILLIPPO, Knt.)

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (WILLIAM HENRY MARSH, C.M.G.)

,, the Attorney General, (EDWARD LOUGHLIN O'MALLEY.)

,, the Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE.)

,, the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER.)

,, the Registrar General, (FREDERICK STEWART, LL.D.)

,, PHINEAS RYRIE.

,, WILLIAM KESWICK.

,, THOMAS JACKSON.

,, FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON.

,, WONG SHING.

The Council met in pursuance of adjournment.

Minutes read and confirmed.

PAPERS.—The Honourable the Colonial Secretary laid on the table the following Papers:— Correspondence respecting the Alleged Smuggling of Opium from Hongkong to China.

Papers relative to the grant of land for a Roman Catholic Cemetery laid on the table at the Meeting of the Legislative Council, held on the 19th March, 1884, in pursuance of the motion of the Honourable P. RYRIE, and ordered to be printed.

VOTES PASSED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.—The Colonial Secretary moved the following votes passed by the Finance Committee:—

(Finance Committee, 25th March, 1884.)

ESTABLISHMENTS .

Surveyor General.

C.S.O.

210 of 1884. Salary of a Civil Engineer to be temporarily employed in the Public Works Department, 4 months, at $200 per month, ................................................................................................... $ 800.00

Allowance to same for chair coolies, at $24 per month, ............................................................... 96.00 ———————————

$ 896.00

Supreme Court.

C.S.O.

272 of 1884. Increase to the salary of the Assistant Sheriff's Officer, who is to be now Assistant Bailiff, at $20 per month, ........................................................................................................................ $ 240.00

Educational.

C.S.O.

2327 of 1883. Salary to Mr. MAY as Assistant Master at Central School, 6 months at full pay at $120, and 6 months at half pay, .................................................................................................................. $ 1,080.00 Allowance for Chinese Teacher for 12 months at $10 per month, .............................................. 120.00 Rent for quarters, at $30, .................................................................................................................. 360.00 C.S.O.

2340 of 1883. Salary to Mr. WONG KÚN-LÁN, late of Normal School, 3 months, at $15 per month, ................ 45.00 ———————————

$ 1,605.00

C.O Desp. 182 of 25th Aug., 1883.

C.S.O.

Police.

Increase to the pay of 3rd class Inspectors, from $60 to $70 per month; Sergeants, from $45 to $52 per month; Constables, from $40 to $45 per month—not exceeding per annum, $ 6,720.00

Sanctioned only on the understanding that they subscribe to certain conditions as to term of service for pension, and remittances to England.

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SERVICES EXCLUSIVE OF ESTABLISHMENTS.

Works and Buildings.

198 of 1884. Construction of New Lunatic Asylum—Unexpended balance of vote in 1883, ....................... $ 2,729.00

Supplementary vote for completion of the same, .......................................................................... 1,800.00 —————

$ 4,529.00

Roads, Streets and Bridges.

C.S.O.

412 of 1884. Reforming and improving Main Streets at Shau-ki Wan, revote of unexpended balance of 1883, ........................................................................................................................................ $ 1,610.00

Miscellaneous Services.

C.S.O.

279 of 1884. Honorarium to the Secretary to the Public Works Enquiry Commission, .................................. $ 100.00 C.S.O.

310 of 1884. Printing Report of the Commissioners appointed to enquire into the circumstances attending the alleged Smuggling into China, ........................................................................................ 269.40 —————

$ 369.40

Seconded by the Colonial Treasurer.

Question—put and passed.

PAPERS.—The Attorney General laid on the table the Report of the Commission appointed to enquire into certain charges brought against the Officers of the Public Works Department.

THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION BILL.—The Attorney General, pursuant to notice, moved that the Council go into Committee on the Medical Registration Bill.

Mr. FRANCIS, pursuant to notice, applied to be heard on behalf of Dr. FISHER.

The Attorney General rose to order.

His Excellency the Governor pointed out that under Standing Order 34 it is provided that before any gentleman not a Member of the Council can address the Council, it is necessary that a motion that he should be heard shall be proposed and seconded by Members of the Council, and carried.

The Honourable P. RYRIE proposed that Mr. FRANCIS be heard at the bar of the Council.

The Honourable W. KESWICK seconded.

Question—put and passed.

Mr. FRANCIS addressed the Council.

The Attorney General moved that the Council go into Committee on the Bill this day week.

THE OPIUM ORDINANCE.—On the motion of the Attorney General, seconded by the Colonial Secretary, the Bill entitled The Opium Ordinance, 1884, was read a second time, committed and passed.

NATURALISATION BILLS.—On the motion of the Attorney General, seconded by the Colonial Secretary, the Bill entitled An Ordinance for the naturalisation of WILLIAM DOBERCK was read a second time, committed, and passed.

On the motion of the Attorney General, seconded by the Colonial Secretary, a Bill entitled An Ordinance for the naturalisation of TSÉUNG SZ-KÁI was read a second time.

The Attorney General moved that the Council go into Committee on the Bill.

The Honourable W. KESWICK addressed the Council.

The Attorney General moved that the Committee be adjourned till the next meeting of Council. Question—put and passed.

PUBLIC GAMBLING.—The Honourable WONG SHING, pursuant to notice, asked "whether it is the intention of the Government to bring in this Session, a Bill for the more stringent repression of public gambling?"

The Attorney General replied.

His Excellency the Governor addressed the Council.

EXPORT OF ARMS BILL.—On the motion of the Attorney General, seconded by the Colonial Secretary, the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend Ordinance No. 3 of 1862 was read a second time, committed, and passed.

MR. CHATER'S PIERS AND WHARVES BILL.—The Honourable W. KESWICK moved that the Council go into Committee on the Bill entitled An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, to authorise CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, Esq. to construct piers and wharves in the harbour of Victoria, and to confer upon the said CATCHICK PAUL CHATER certain other powers and privileges.

Seconded by the Honourable the Surveyor General.

Question—put and passed.

On the motion of the Honourable W. KESWICK, seconded by the Honourable the Surveyor General, the Bill was passed.

The Council adjourned until Wednesday, the 2nd April, at 4 P.M.

G. F. BOWEN,

Governor.

Read and confirmed, this 2nd day of April, 1884.

J. H. STEWART-LOCKHART,

Acting Clerk of Councils.