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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL No. 5.
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FRIDAY, 12TH NOVEMBER, 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.
,, ALEXANDER PALMER MACEWEN, (vice the Honourable THOMAS JACKSON, on leave). ,, JOHN BELL-IRVING, (vice the Honourable WILLIAM KESWICK, on leave).
ABSENT:
The Honourable WONG SHING, by leave.
The Council met pursuant to adjournment.
The Minutes of the Meeting held on the 1st October last, and of the Meeting held on the 5th instant, were read and confirmed.
VOTES OF MONEY REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.―Read the following Minutes by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government:―
(1.)
W. H. MARSH.
C.S.O.
1722 of 1886. The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote the sum of $561 for the purpose of establishing a branch of the Harbour Office at Hunghòm.
As this village is increasing in size and importance, it would be a great convenience to the junk people to have a Harbour Station at Hunghòm, otherwise they must come to Victoria to obtain their papers, a distance of over 2 miles, or else evade the payment of the fees.
In order to establish this Harbour Station, it is necessary to build an additional room at the Police Station for the accommodation of boatmen. This the Surveyor General estimated at $500, which will be charged against the vote for "Police Building, extension" under Extraordinary Public Works. A supplementary vote is now required to meet the salaries and other contingencies, viz.:―
Allowance to the Police Officer in charge at $11 per month, ................................ $ 132.00 Salaries to 4 Boatmen at $6 each, ............................................................................ 288.00 420.00
Cost of a boat, ............................................................................................................ 90.00 Cost of a safe, ............................................................................................................ 35.00 Desks, Bookcase, &c., .............................................................................................. 16.00 $ 561.00
Government House, Hongkong, 9th November, 1886.
(2.)
W. H. MARSH.
C.S.O.
2352 of 1886. The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote the sum of $522 for the temporary employment of a Land Surveyor, for the purpose of obtaining particulars of the acreage of the ground, and nature of the localities, occupied by unlicensed Squatters, as required by the Land Commission, viz.:―
Salary at $150 per month, for 3 months, ................................................................. $ 450.00 Chair allowance at $24 per month for 3 months, ................................................... 72.00 $ 522.00
Government House, Hongkong, 12th November, 1886.
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(3.)
W. H. MARSH.
C.S.O.
2593 of 1886. The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote the sum of $150 as a honorarium to Mr. BRUCE SHEPHERD, for services rendered to the Commission under the Chefoo Convention.
This honorarium is recommended by His Honour Mr. Justice RUSSELL, one of the Commissioners under the Chefoo Convention. Mr. BRUCE SHEPHERD having taken short hand notes of the proceedings, and performed a great deal of work of a very confidential nature, which could only be entrusted to a responsible person.
Government House, Hongkong, 12th November, 1886.
(4.)
W. H. MARSH.
The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote the sum of $11,500, the estimated cost of constructing a strong granite retaining-wall along the northern face of the cliff upon which the Government Hospital buildings are built.
The last rain-storm having caused a serious landslip along the cliff, which is now nearly perpendicular, it is requisite to put the Hospital as well as the buildings and the road below beyond the risk of serious accident that might be entailed by another landslip.
Government House, Hongkong, 12th November, 1886.
(5.)
W. H. MARSH.
Mis.Doc.
1234 of 1886. The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote the sum of $150 for the employment of a temporary Copying Clerk, to copy both Chinese and English, for four months, in connection with the valuation at present in progress.
Government House, Hongkong, 12th November, 1886.
The Acting Colonial Secretary moved that these Minutes be referred to the Finance Committee. The Treasurer seconded.
Question―put and passed.
APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES.―The Acting Colonial Secretary moved the appointment of the following Committees:―
1. Finance, to consist of the whole of the Members of the Legislative Council, except the Governor, with the Colonial Secretary as Chairman.
2. Law, to consist of the Honourable the Attorney General (Chairman), The Honourable H. G. THOMSETT, R.N., the Honourable P. RYRIE, the Honourable A. P. MACEWEN, and the Honourable WONG SHING.
3. Public Works, to consist of the Honourable the Surveyor General, the Honourable the Colonial Secretary, the Honourable the Colonial Treasurer, the Honourable F. D. SASSOON, and the Honourable J. BELL-IRVING.
The Treasurer seconded.
Question―put and passed.
QUESTION.―Mr. MACEWEN, pursuant to notice, asked:―
Has any word been received as to whether Sir GEORGE BOWEN will return to his Post as Governor of the Colony at the expiration of his leave on the 16th December next?
If the answer is in the negative, will His Excellency the Administrator wire to the Colonial Office to know whether Sir GEORGE BOWEN is coming out, and, if not, what steps are being taken to fill the Post?
The Officer Administering the Government replied.
BILLS READ A FIRST TIME.―On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, the following Bills were read a first time:―
(a.) A Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Law relating to Wills.
(b.) A Bill entitled―An Ordinance relating to Bills of Lading.
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BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE FOR THE BETTER PROTECTION OF YOUNG GIRLS.―The Acting Attorney General moved the second reading of this Bill, and addressed the Council at length on the objects and reasons of it.
The Acting Colonial Secretary seconded.
After some discussion, the Acting Attorney General withdrew his motion pending the perusal by the Honourable Members of the correspondence on the subject.
POSTPONEMENT OF THE OTHER ORDERS OF THE DAY.―On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, the other Orders of the Day were postponed.
ADJOURNMENT.―The Council then adjourned to Friday, the 19th instant.
W. H. MARSH,
Administering the Government.
Read and confirmed, this 19th day of November, 1886.
ARATHOON SETH,
Clerk of Councils.
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