1888-02-03 — Page 1

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 6.

FRIDAY, 3RD FEBRUARY, 1888.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(SIR G. WILLIAM DES VOEUX, K.C.M.G.)

His Honour the Acting Chief Justice (JAMES RUSSELL, C.M.G.), vice His Honour SIR GEORGE PHILLIPPO, Knt., on leave.

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (FREDERICK STEWART).

,, the Attorney General, (EDWARD LOUGHLIN O'MALLEY).

,, the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER).

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

,, HENRY GEORGE THOMSETT, R.N.

,, PHINEAS RYRIE.

,, WONG SHING.

,, ALEXANDER PALMER MACEWEN.

,, JOHN BELL-IRVING.

ABSENT:

The Honourable CATCHICK PAUL CHATER.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 25th ultimo, were read and confirmed.

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS.―Read the following Message from His Excellency the Governor:― G. WILLIAM DES VOEUX.

The Governor has given his careful consideration, in Council, to the question recently raised by the Honourable Mr. MACEWEN with regard to the sittings of the Finance Committee. He is informed that for a long time past, nothing has occurred at any of the meetings of the Committee, which might have not been published without prejudice to the Public Service, and he moreover strongly sympathizes with the view that discussions on votes of public money should, as a rule, be held in public. On the other hand the practice of private sittings has the sanction of long usage, and though the advantages which it possesses, or the conditions that make it expedient, are not for the moment apparent, they must be presumed at one time to have existed and as therefore possible of recurrence. For this reason the Governor does not feel justified in sanctioning a complete alteration of the practice at once, but thinks that an experiment may safely be tried, which while making a sensible advance towards publicity, will permit of private sittings when they appear for any reason expedient.

It is proposed therefore that for the future the meetings of the Finance Committee shall, as a rule, be held with open doors, and that all votes be passed in public, it being however competent for any member, either by previous notice or otherwise, to secure a private discussion of such vote or votes as may appear to him to require it. As the principal reasons for or against every vote can under such a system always be elicited in the public hearing, either in the Finance Committee or in the Legislative Council, it is hoped that all reasonable demands for publicity will thus be satisfied.

On the other hand in the event, which the Governor does not deem probable, of the new practice proving by experience to have inconveniences which outweigh its obvious advantages, it will not be found difficult to return to that which has been hitherto followed.

Government House, Hongkong, 3rd February, 1888.

SUBSIDIARY COINS.―Mr. MACEWEN, pursuant to notice made the following motion and addressed the Council:―

That in consequence of the frequent inconvenience caused to the Public owing to the insufficiency of the supply of Small Coins, the Council recommend increased quantities to be regularly sent out. Mr. MacEwen will also move for previous correspondence on the subject.

Mr. RYRIE seconded, and addressed the Council.

The Treasurer addressed the Council.

The Governor addressed the Council.

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At the suggestion of the Governor, the Colonial Secretary moved that the Council resolve itself into Committee in order to give greater scope for discussion of the question.

The Treasurer seconded.

Question―put and passed.

Discussion ensued in Committee, and His Excellency stated that he would give the subject early consideration and lay it before the Secretary of State.

The Council then resumed and proceeded with the other business of the day.

BILL ENTITLED THE VACCINATION ORDINANCE, 1888.―The Attorney General moved, and the Colonial Secretary seconded, the first reading of this Bill.

Question―put and passed.

Bill read a first time.

The Attorney General then moved, and the Colonial Secretary seconded, that the Standing Orders be suspended and the Bill be read a second time.

Question―put and passed.

Bill read a second time.

The Council then went into Committee on the Bill.

Bill reported with amendments.

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

Question―put and passed.

Bill read a third time.

Question put―that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed, and numbered as Ordinance 1 of 1888.

BILL ENTITLED THE DEFENCES SKETCHING PREVENTION ORDINANCE, 1888.―The Attorney General moved the second reading of this Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question―put and passed.

Bill read a second time.

The Council then went into Committee on the Bill.

Bill reported without amendment.

The Attorney General then moved the third reading of the Bill.

The 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 2 of 1888.

BILL ENTITLED THE UNCLAIMED BALANCES ORDINANCE, 1888.―The Attorney General informed the Council that owing to some additions which will have to be made in this Bill it will be necessary to substitute it by another Bill, and therefore asked permission to withdraw this one.

Bill withdrawn.

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CROWN REMEDIES ORDINANCE, 1875.―The Attorney General moved the second reading of this Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question―put and passed.

Bill read a second time.

The Council then went into Committee on the Bill.

Bill reported without amendment.

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

Question―put and passed.

Bill read a third time.

Question put―that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed, and numbered as Ordinance 3 of 1888.

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE ENCLOSURE OF VERANDAHS ERECTED OVER CROWN LANDS.―The Attorney General moved that the Bill be recommitted.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question―put and passed.

The Council then went into Committee on the Bill.

Bill reported with the addition of a clause.

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

Question―put and passed.

Bill read a third time.

Question put―that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed, and numbered as Ordinance 4 of 1888.

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BILL ENTITLED THE OFFICIAL SIGNATURES FEES ORDINANCE, 1888.―The Attorney General moved the third reading of this Bill.

The 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 5 of 1888.

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE FOR THE NATURALIZATION OF FRITZ ADOLPH FRICCIUS GROBIEN.― The Attorney General moved the third reading of this Bill.

The 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 6 of 1888.

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE FOR THE NATURALIZATION OF HILLUNE LOO NGAWK otherwise LOO KIU FUNG.―The Attorney General moved the third reading of this Bill.

Question―put and passed.

Bill read a third time.

Question put―that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed, and numbered as Ordinance 7 of 1888.

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE FOR THE NATURALIZATION OF LAI SHANG otherwise LAI CHEK KÜN.― The Attorney General moved the third reading of this Bill.

The 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 8 of 1888.

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE FOR THE NATURALIZATION OF LAI KIT otherwise LAI CHEUK.―The Attorney General moved the third reading of this Bill.

The 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 9 of 1888.

ADJOURNMENT.―The Council then adjourned to Wednesday, the 8th instant, at 4 P.M.

G. WILLIAM DES VOEUX,

Governor.

Read and confirmed, this 8th day of February, 1888.

ARATHOON SETH,

Clerk of Councils.