1887-05-23 — Page 1

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL No. 30.

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MONDAY, 23RD MAY, 1887.

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PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM GORDON CAMERON, C.B., Administering the Government in the absence of His Excellency SIR GEORGE FERGUSON BOWEN, G.C.M.G. His Honour the Acting Chief Justice, (JAMES RUSSELL), vice His Honour SIR GEORGE PHILLIPPO, Knt., on leave.

The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (FREDERICK STEWART.)

,, the Acting Attorney General, (EDWARD JAMES ACKROYD.)

,, the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER.)

,, HENRY GEORGE THOMSETT, R.N.

,, 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).

ABSENT:

The Honourable the Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE), by indisposition.

,, PHINEAS RYRIE, on leave.

The Council met pursuant to notice.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 13th instant, were read and confirmed.

VOTE OF MONEY REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.―Read the following Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government.

W. G. CAMERON.

C.S.O.

2853 of 1886. The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote the sum of $600 to be distributed among the original owners of cultivated lands at Little Hongkong, by way of compensation for loss sustained by them, by the resumption of a portion of their ground, which was included in the large plot at Deep Bay recently sold.

The Officer Administering the Government, although not recognizing the right of these original owners to any compensation whatever, yet, under the particular circumstances of the case, and as a matter of charity, recommends that a gratuity be distributed among them, to be charged against Premia on Land sales.

Government House, Hongkong, 23rd May, 1887.

The Acting Colonial Secretary moved that this vote be referred to the Finance Committee. The Treasurer seconded.

Question―put and passed.

VOTE 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 13th instant, (No. 1287 ), and moved that the following sum referred to therein be voted:―

C.S.O.

948 of 1887. Press for keeping the Magistracy Records, .......................................................................................... $ 150.00 The Treasurer seconded.

Question―put and passed.

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PAPERS.―The Acting Colonial Secretary, by direction of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid upon the table the following papers:―

(a.) Letter from the Crown Agents in connection with the Loan. (No. 2887 ).

(b.) Report of the Director of the Observatory for 1886. (No. 2987 ).

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

The Officer Administering the Government addressed the Council.

The Acting Attorney General addressed the Council.

Mr. CHATER addressed the Council.

The Acting Chief Justice addressed the Council.

Question―put and passed.

Bill read a second time.

The Acting Attorney General moved that the Council do now go into Committee on this Bill.

Mr. MACEWEN moved, at the request of the Chamber of Commerce, for a short delay to enable certain suggested amendments to be formulated.

Mr. CHATER seconded.

The Acting Attorney General asked to be informed, before next meeting, of any modifications in the Bill, in order that they may be considered.

The Officer Administering the Government wished the Council to understand that His Excellency had lost no time in acquainting the Council and the Chamber of Commerce of the approval by the Secretary of State of the proposals that had been previously made by them.

ADJOURNMENT.―The Acting Attorney General then moved that the Council be adjourned to Friday, the 27th instant, at 4 P.M.

The Acting Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question―put and passed.

W. G. CAMERON, Major-General,

Administering the Government.

Read and confirmed, this 27th day of May, 1887.

ARATHOON SETH,

Clerk of Councils.