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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL No. 1.
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FRIDAY, 27TH AUGUST, 1886.
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PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY WILLIAM HENRY MARSH, C.M.G.,
Administering the Government in the absence of His Excellency SIR GEORGE FERGUSON BOWEN, G.C.M.G. His Honour the Chief Justice, (SIR GEORGE PHILLIPPO, Knt.)
The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (FREDERICK STEWART.)
,, the Acting Attorney General, (EDWARD JAMES ACKROYD.)
,, the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER.)
,, the Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE.)
,, HENRY GEORGE THOMSETT, R.N.
,, PHINEAS RYRIE.
,, FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON.
,, WONG SHING.
,, ALEXANDER PALMER MACEWEN, (vice the Honourable THOMAS JACKSON, on leave).
,, JOHN BELL-IRVING, (vice the Honourable WILLIAM KESWICK, on leave).
The Council met pursuant to notice.
The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 21st May last, were read and confirmed.
His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government addressed the Council.
PAPERS.―The Acting Colonial Secretary by direction of the Officer Administering the Government, laid upon the table the following papers:―
No. 34
1886 Report of the Commission appointed to consider the question of insufficient accommodation in Victoria Gaol. No. 35
1886 Correspondence respecting the German Mail Steamers.
No. 36
1886 Despatch respecting the withdrawal of Ecclesiastical Grants in Hongkong.
No. 37
1886 Despatch respecting Sir GEORGE BOWEN'S Departure from the Colony.
THE LATE MR. F. BULKELEY-JOHNSON.―Read Colonial Office Despatch, No. 33, of the 24th April, 1886, containing letters to and from Mrs. JOHNSON regarding the death of her late husband.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.―Read the Minutes of the Finance Committee of the 15th and 20th ultimo, (Nos. 16 and 17) having reference to a motion made by Mr. MACEWEN, that the meetings should be held with open doors.
Read also the Minutes of the Finance Committee of the 22nd ultimo (No. 18) reporting on the following votes:― (Finance Committee, 22nd July, 1886.)
PAYMENTS IN EXCESS OF THE ESTIMATES FOR 1886.
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ESTABLISHMENTS.
Cadets.
C.S.O.
1470 of 1886. Second moiety of an honorarium, sanctioned by the Secretary of State, to Mr. HILLIER, Acting Chinese Secretary at the British Legation, for superintending Chinese studies of Cadets in Peking, (Re-vote, 8th May, 1885), ..............................................................................................................................£50 @ 3/7＝ $ 279.06
Medical.
C.S.O.
222 of 1886. Additional salary to the Caretaker at the Mortuary, to act also as Postmortem attendant, for 6 months, @ $10 per month, ..................................................................................................................................................... $ 60.00
C.S.O.
1694 of 1886. Lazaretto on Stone Cutters' Island.―Salary of the Staff, viz.: Wardmaster at $40 a month, 5 Nurses at $8 each a month, 1 Cook at $8 a month,―in all $88 per month, say for 3 months, ........................................... $ 264.00
C.S.O.
1620 of 1886. Salary of 2 Watchmen for the Lazaretto,―one at $9, and one at $8 per month, for 5 12 months, ......... $ 93.50
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SERVICES EXCLUSIVE OF ESTABLISHMENTS.
Sanitation.
Compensation for Cattle destroyed during the recent Epidemic, being half of the assessed value, ....... $ 723.00
The Acting Colonial Secretary moved that these items be passed.
The Colonial Treasurer seconded.
Question―put and passed.
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With reference to the first item (Cadets), Mr. MACEWEN gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would make a motion on the question of Student Interpreters.
QUESTIONS.―Mr. MACEWEN, pursuant to notice, asked how many sittings of the Law Committee had taken place since the Committee was formed in 1883?
The Acting Attorney General replied.
Mr. MACEWEN, pursuant to notice, asked how many sittings of the Public Works Committee had taken place since the Committee was formed in 1883?
The Surveyor General replied.
MOTION.―Mr. MACEWEN; pursuant to notice, moved that in future all matters of Public interest, and more particularly the voting of Public Funds, be discussed openly in Council, and not, as heretofore, at private meetings of the Finance Committee.
Mr. MACEWEN then addressed the Council.
Mr. RYRIE seconded the motion, and addressed the Council.
Mr. SASSOON addressed the Council.
The Acting Attorney General addressed the Council and moved, as an amendment, the following resolution:― "That it is not necessary to interfere with the present practice of the Council which has been in existence for many years, and which was unanimously adopted by the Standing Rules and Orders of the Council dated the 10th April, 1884."
The Colonial Treasurer seconded and addressed the Council.
The Chief Justice addressed the Council.
The Officer Administering the Government addressed the Council.
The Council divided.
For. Against.
Mr. WONG SHING. Mr. BELL-IRVING.
Capt. THOMSETT. Mr. MACEWEN.
THE SURVEYOR GENERAL. Mr. SASSOON.
THE TREASURER. Mr. RYRIE.
THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL.
THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.
THE CHIEF JUSTICE.
Amendment carried by a majority of three.
BILL ENTITLED THE FRENCH MALL STEAMERS ORDINANCE CONTINUATION ORDINANCE, 1886.―On the motion of the Acting Attorney-General, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, this Bill was read a first time.
BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE TEMPORARY PROVISION FOR SECURING THE STATUS OF GERMAN MAIL STEAMERS WITHIN THE PORTS OF THE COLONY OF HONGKONG.―On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, this Bill was read a first time.
The Acting Attorney General moved, and the Acting Colonial Secretary seconded, that the Standing Orders be suspended.
Question―put and passed.
On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, these Bills were read a second time, and committed.
Mr. RYRIE moved that a clause be added to the German Mail Steamers Bill embodying the terms of para. 4 of the Earl of ROSEBERY'S Despatch to Count HATZFELDT of the 26th April, 1886, (Paper 3586 ).
The motion was not seconded.
Bills reported without amendment.
On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, these Bills were read a third time.
Question put―that these Bills do pass.
Bills passed, and numbered respectively as Ordinances 22 and 23 of 1886.
SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION BILL, 1885.―On the motion of the Acting Colonial Secretary, seconded by the Colonial Treasurer, this Bill was read a first time.
The Acting Colonial Secretary gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would move the second reading of this Bill.
ADJOURNMENT.―The Council then adjourned until Friday, the 17th proximo, at 4 P.M.
W. H. MARSH,
Administering the Government.
Read and confirmed, this 17th day of September, 1886.
ARATHOON SETH.
Clerk of Councils.
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