1885-01-28 — Page 1

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NO. 9.

WEDNESDAY, 28TH JANUARY, 1885.

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 Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER.)

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

,, 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.

VOTES OF MONEY REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.—Read the following Minutes by His Excellency the Governor:—

G. F. BOWEN.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote the following sums:—

(1)

Supplementary Vote for 1884.

C.S.O.

1504 of 1884. C.S.O.

Increase to the Salary of the Matron of the Lock Hospital, from $30 to $40 per month, from 1st July to 30th November, 1884,..................................................................... $ 50.00

Supplementary Vote for 1885.

1504 of 1884. Increase to the Salary of the Matron of the Lock Hospital, as above, for 12 months,........ $ 120.00

(2)

$815.53 being the balance to the Debit of the Lock Hospital's Account for the year ended 1884, as per account annexed,........................................................................ $ 815.53

C.S.O.

3121 of 1884. C.S.O.

Re-vote of $820.30 being amount due to those members of the Police Force, who have accepted the increase of pay under the new Regulations,........................................ $ 820.30

Arrears of pay for 1884 to be paid in 1885.

(3)

3252 of 1884. Building a Dwelling House for the First Assistant at the Kaulung Observatory,............... $ 500.00

The Government is at present paying $30 per month for his quarters at Kaulung. It will therefore be more economical to build a dwelling for him.

Government House, 28th January, 1885.

The Colonial Secretary moved that these Minutes be referred to the Finance Committee. The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question—put and passed.

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ASSENT TO ORDINANCES.—The Acting Clerk of Councils announced His Excellency the Governor's assent to the following Ordinances:—

Ordinance No. 1 of 1885.—An Ordinance to apply a sum not exceeding Nine hundred and Forty-nine thousand, and Sixty-one Dollars to the Public Service of the Year 1885.

Ordinance No. 2 of 1885.—An Ordinance to amend The Stamp Ordinance, 1884.

QUESTION.—The Honourable T. JACKSON, pursuant to notice, asked if it is true that the funds of this Colony are at present being spent upon the construction of a fort in the Liümun Pass, covering the proposed minefield, upon which it is intended to mount old 40-pounder guns, which have been obsolete for nearly twenty years, and which would prove utterly useless against modern ordinance.

His Excellency the Governor replied as follows:—

"With reference to the question of the Honourable Gentleman, I desire, in the

first place, to take this opportunity of informing the Council that, on the 2nd instant, I

forwarded by telegraph to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the vote passed

unanimously, on the 31st ultimo, viz.:—

'This Council now vote unanimously the sum of fifty-five 'thousand six

hundred and twenty-five pounds sterling (£55,625), 'required as the contribution of this

Colony to the effective defence 'of Hongkong; it being understood that the armament

to be provided 'by the Imperial Government will be of the best and latest pattern 'of

breech-loading ordinance, capable of resisting attacks by the 'heaviest modern

ironclads.' To this I have received the following reply:

'Referring to your telegram of the 2nd January, new guns are 'being provided at

the cost of more than eighty thousand pounds 'sterling (£80,000).' It will be

remembered that this is more than double the cost (viz. £37,500) of the guns originally

proposed for the new Forts at Hongkong.

"With regard to the terms of the Honourable Gentleman's question, I am

unable to say, if 'the Funds of the Colony are at present 'being spent upon the

construction of a Fort in the Liümun Pass.' I have ascertained that the military works

here are being carried out under the immediate direction of the War Office in England,

and that it is not known as yet whether the cost of the battery at the Liümun Pass,

which will not exceed one thousand pounds sterling, (£1,000), will be set down to

Imperial Funds, or to the Colonial contribution. Of course, if it is so desired, I will

forward the question of my Honourable Friend to the Secretary of State.

"With respect to the other points of the Honourable Gentleman's question, I am

informed that heavy ordinance will probably be mounted at the Liümun Pass so soon

as it can be procured; but that the primary object of the new work there is to protect the

Submarine minefield against the attack of armed boats and steam-launches; and that

for this purpose lighter and rapidly firing guns are indispensable; such as breech

loading 40-pounder guns, which the Military authorities declare are not obsolete, or

ineffective."

A BILL TO AMEND ORDINANCE 14 OF 1870.—READ A SECOND TIME. COMMITTED. NOTICE OF THIRD READING.—On the motion of the Attorney General, seconded by the Colonial Secretary, a Bill to amend Ordinance 14 of 1870 was read a second time and committed.

The Attorney General gave notice that at the next meeting of Council, he would move the third reading of this Bill. A BILL TO AMEND ORDINANCE 8 OF 1882.—COMMITTED. NOTICE OF THIRD READING.—On the motion of the Attorney General, seconded by the Colonial Secretary, a Bill to amend Ordinance 8 of 1882 was committed. The Attorney General gave notice that at the next meeting of Council, he would move the third reading of this Bill. A BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE 7 OF 1873.—COMMITTED. NOTICE OF THIRD READING.—On the motion of the Attorney General, seconded by the Colonial Secretary, a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend Ordinance 7 of 1873 was committed.

The Attorney General gave notice that at the next meeting of Council, he would move the third reading of this Bill.

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THE UNCLAIMED BALANCES ORDINANCE, 1885.—WITHDRAWN. AMENDED BILL READ A FIRST TIME.—The Attorney General asked leave to withdraw this Bill, and to introduce an amended Bill in its stead.

Question—put and passed.

On the motion of the Attorney General, seconded by the Colonial Secretary, the Amended Bill was read a first time.

POSTPONEMENT OF THE OTHER ORDERS OF THE DAY.—The Attorney General moved the postponement of the other Orders of the Day.

Question—put and passed.

The Council adjourned until Wednesday, the 4th proximo, at 4 P.M.

G. F. BOWEN,

Governor.

Read and confirmed, this 4th day of February, 1885.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Acting Clerk of Councils.