1887-04-01 — Page 1

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NO. 23.

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FRIDAY, 1ST APRIL, 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 Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER.)

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

,, HENRY GEORGE THOMSETT, R.N.

,, PHINEAS RYRIE.

,, WONG SHING.

,, JOHN BELL-IRVING, (vice the Honourable WILLIAM KESWICK, on leave).

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

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 30th ultimo, were read and confirmed.

VOTE 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.

469 of 1887.The Steam-launch Stanley (formerly Victoria) being about to be handed over to the Sanitary Department to be used as a Tug-boat to remove rubbish and dredgings, it is necessary to provide for the pay of the crew, and other contingent expenses of the launch.

The Officer Administering the Government therefore recommends the Council to vote the following sums:―

Engineer at $30 per month, 10 months, .......................................... $ 300.00

Fireman at $15 " " .................................................... 150.00

Coxswain at $10 " " .................................................... 100.00

3 Sailors at $ 7 each " " .................................................... 210.00

$ 760.00

Coal, Oil, Water, &c. for 10 months,............................................... 3,130.00

Moorings, .......................................................................................... 25.00

$3,915.00

The Surveyor General will make arrangements with the Conservancy Contractors to refund a portion of the expenses incurred by the tug-boat, and this will be accounted for as Revenue on account of conservancy.

Government House, Hongkong, 31st March, 1887.

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(2.)

W. H. MARSH.

C.S.O.

795 of 1887. When the Green Island Light-house was built, it was thought that it would meet all requirements, if a native or a coloured man were placed in charge of the light. A very small house with two rooms was therefore deemed sufficient by way of quarters; but, subsequently, a European was put in charge, and there has been ever since one continuous complaint about the inadequacy of the house.

As a new roof will be required to the building, the Surveyor General has suggested that this opportunity should be availed of to make certain extensions, the cost of which would amount to $1,500. The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote the above sum. Government House, Hongkong, 31st March, 1887.

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

Question―put and passed.

VOTES OF MONEY PASSED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.―The Acting Colonial Secretary, by direction of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid upon the table the Report of the proceedings of the Finance Committee, dated the 25th ultimo, (No. 8), and moved that the following sum referred to therein be voted, viz.:―

Pay of an additional postman for 8 months, at $10 per month, .............................................. $ 80.00

The Treasurer seconded.

Question―put and passed.

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE FOR THE BETTER REGULATING OF THE TRADE IN OPIUM.―The debate on the motion for the second reading of this Bill resumed.

The Chief Justice addressed the Council at length.

Mr. CHATER addressed the Council, and moved that the second reading of the Bill be fixed for this day week, in order to allow time for an alternative scheme relative to broken chests of Opium to be submitted to the Government.

Mr. BELL-IRVING seconded.

The Acting Attorney General addressed the Council, offering no objection to the Honourable Member's motion.

The Officer Administering the Government then addressed the Council, and suggested that it would be more convenient to adjourn the second reading sine die.

Mr. CHATER agreed.

Question―put and passed.

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO ABOLISH TRANSPORTATION AND PENAL SERVITUDE AND TO SUBSTITUTE OTHER PUNISHMENT IN LIEU THEREOF.―On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, the Council went into Committee on this Bill.

Bill reported without amendment.

The Acting Attorney General then moved that the Bill be read a third time.

The Acting Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question―put and passed.

Bill read a third time.

Question put―that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed, and numbered as Ordinance No. 10 of 1887.

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE FOR THE MORE EFFECTUAL PREVENTION OF CRIME.―On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, the Council resumed consideration in Committee of this Bill.

Bill reported with certain technical amendments.

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE PROVISION FOR SECURING THE STATUS OF FRENCH MAIL STEAMERS WITHIN THE PORTS OF THE COLONY OF HONGKONG.―The Acting Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved that the Council go into Committee on this Bill.

The Acting Colonial Secretary seconded.

The Chief Justice addressed the Council.

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Mr. RYRIE then addressed the Council, and moved as an amendment, that the going into Committee on this Bill be postponed.

Mr. MACEWEN seconded.

Debate then ensued, and the Council divided:―

For Against

Mr. MACEWEN, Mr. CHATER.

Mr. WONG SHING. Mr. BELL-IRVING.

Mr. RYRIE. Captain THOMSETT.

THE SURVEYOR GENERAL.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER.

THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL.

THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.

THE CHIEF JUSTICE.

Motion lost by a majority of five.

The Council then went into Committee on the Bill.

Bill reported in the form of the usual annual Bill for these Steamers,―Clauses 1, 2 and 3 with-drawn and a new Clause inserted in lieu thereof. Clause 4 amended and Bill reported.

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE PROVISION FOR SECURING THE STATUS OF GERMAN MAIL STEAMERS WITHIN THE PORTS OF THE COLONY OF HONGKONG.―The Acting Attorney General moved that the Council go into Committee on this Bill.

The Acting Colonial Secretary seconded.

Mr. MACEWEN moved, that the same amendments be made in this Bill as in the French Mail Steamers Bill just dealt with.

Mr. BELL-IRVING seconded.

The Acting Attorney General then withdrew Clauses 1, 2, 3 and 4, and inserted a new Clause in lieu thereof, and the Council went into Committee on the Bill as amended.

The Bill reported without amendment.

POSTPONEMENT OF THE OTHER ORDER OF THE DAY.―On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, the other Order of the Day was postponed.

DEPARTURE OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE.―Mr. RYRIE addressed the Council on the approaching departure of the Chief Justice on leave of absence, and expressed on behalf of the Un-Official Members of the Council, that His Honour and Lady PHILLIPPO may have a pleasant passage home, and both may return with re-invigorated health.

The Acting Attorney General on behalf of the Official Members also addressed the Council, wishing His Honour and Lady PHILLIPPO a pleasant passage home and a happy return.

His Honour replied in suitable terms.

ADJOURNMENT.―The Council then adjourned until Thursday, the 7th instant, at 4 P.M.

W. H. MARSH,

Administering the Government.

Read and confirmed, this 7th day of April, 1887.

ARATHOON SETH,

Clerk of Councils.