1887-01-07 — Page 1

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL No. 10.

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FRIDAY, 7TH JANUARY, 1887.

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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 Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE.)

,, HENRY GEORGE THOMSETT, R.N.

,, PHINEAS RYRIE.

,, WONG SHING.

,, ALEXANDER PALMER MACEWEN, (vice the Honourable THOMAS JACKSON, on leave). ,, CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, (vice the Honourable FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON, on leave).

ABSENT:

The Honourable the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER), on leave.

,, JOHN BELL-IRVING, on leave.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 10th ultimo, 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.

1716 of 1886. The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote the sum of $300 for the erection of a detached Telegraph line to connect the Observatory with the Time-Ball Tower.

The Director of the Observatory having represented that the present line, which is affixed to the same posts which carry other lines for Police Telegraph, is sometimes defective for the purpose of dropping the Time-Ball, a new line well insulated and supported on separate poles is now proposed.

Government House, Hongkong, 7th January, 1887.

(2.)

W. H. MARSH.

C.O.D.

66 of 1886. The Officer Administering the Government lays before the Council an application for increase of salary by the Inspector of Schools, who has represented that, as shown by the published Annual Reports on Education, his duties have been doubled since 1878, when he joined the service; whilst his emoluments are smaller than those of the Second Master of the Central School, and are not larger than those of the Third Master.

The Secretary of State to whom this application has been referred, recognizing that the work of the Inspector of Schools has considerably increased, is prepared to approve an increase not exceeding $600 a year to the salary of his appointment, and the Officer Administering the Government requests the Council to vote this amount for 1887.

Government House, Hongkong, 7th January, 1887.

The Acting Colonial Secretary moved that these votes be referred to the Finance Committee. The Acting Attorney General seconded.

Question―put and passed.

28

C.S.O.

25 of 1887. Read a Minute by the Surveyor General respecting the selection of a site for a Temporary Central Market, pending the construction of the Permanent Market.

The Surveyor General moved that this Minute be referred to the Public Works Committee. The Acting Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question―put and passed.

C. O. Desp.

62 of 1886. Read a Despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, sanctioning the gratuity of $870 voted by the Council to Mrs. SAMPSON, widow of the late First Boarding Officer in the Harbour Department. PAPERS.―The Acting Colonial Secretary, by direction of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid on the table the following papers:―

1. Correspondence respecting Child Adoption and Domestic Service among Chinese, (No. 187 ). 2. Correspondence respecting the question of Diplomatic and Consular assistance to British Trade abroad, (No. 287 ).

3. Despatch respecting extension of the Governor's leave, (No. 587 ).

4. Further Correspondence respecting Deaths in the Italian and French Convents, (No. 687 ) QUESTION.―Mr. CHATER, pursuant to notice, asked:―

Whether His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government of Hongkong has received any instructions from the Secretary of State for the Colonies with regard to a Conference to be held in London in April next to discuss the defences of the Empire and an Imperial system of telegraph extension.

If so, what are those instructions, and what action does His Excellency propose to take?

If not, are not these two subjects of sufficient importance to warrant His Excellency in telegraphing to the Home Government to ascertain if any such instructions are on the way or in contemplation?

The Officer Administering the Government replied, and laid on the table the following paper:―

Correspondence respecting the nomination of a representative to take part in a Conference to be held in London for the purpose of discussing certain questions of common interest to all parts of the Empire, (No. 387 ).

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE PROMISSORY OATHS ORDINANCE, 1869.―The Acting Attorney General, moved the second reading of this Bill, and addressed the Council on the objects and reasons of it.

The Acting Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question―put and passed.

Bill read a second time.

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE No. 8 OF 1879.―On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, seconded by Captain THOMSETT, the Council went into Committee on this Bill.

After some discussion, Mr. RYRIE moved that consideration be postponed until next meeting. The Acting Attorney General seconded.

Question―put and passed.

POSTPONEMENT OF THE OTHER ORDER OF THE DAY.―The Acting Attorney General moved that, in consequence of the absence of the Treasurer, the other Order of the Day be postponed.

Question―put and passed.

ADJOURNMENT.―The Council was then adjourned to Friday, the 14th instant, at 4 P.M.

W. H. MARSH,

Administering the Government.

Read and confirmed, this 14th day of January, 1887.

ARATHOON SETH,

Clerk of Councils.