1890-06-09 — Page 1

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 15.

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MONDAY, 9TH JUNE, 1890.

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PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT (The Honourable FRANCIS FLEMING, C.M.G.).

The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (WALTER MEREDITH DEANE).

,, the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN).

,, the Surveyor General, (SAMUEL BROWN).

,, the Acting Registrar General, (NORMAN GILBERT MITCHELL-INNES).

,, PHINEAS RYRIE.

,, CATCHICK PAUL CHATER.

,, JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.

,, HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

ABSENT:

The Honourable the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER), on account of sickness.

,, ALEXANDER PALMER MACEWEN.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

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

His Excellency addressed the Council and stated that he had received a letter from certain merchants in the Colony drawing his attention to the fact that the Viceroy of Canton contemplated raising the duty on opium contrary to what was considered the terms of the Chefoo Convention. Mr. ALABASTER, the Consul at Canton, had been communicated with and he had done everything in his power in connection with the subject. His Excellency further stated that he had telegraphed to Her Majesty's Minister at Peking on the subject. The reply which had been received was to the effect that representations had been made to the Chinese Government on the subject of the contemplated increased duties and that information had been received through the Yamên that the project had been abandoned.

The Acting Colonial Secretary laid on the table a despatch from the Secretary of State regarding the Estimates for 1890.

Read the following Minutes under the hand of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government:— (1.)

F. FLEMING.

C.S.O.

1247 of 1890. The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote a sum of Four hundred and Twenty Dollars and Sixty-seven cents, ($420.67), for the salary of Musketry Instructor and Storekeeper of Police.

Half pay during the voyage, and full pay from the date of his arrival at $60 per month.

From 10th April to 22nd May half pay.

From 23rd May to end of the year full pay.

Government House, Hongkong, 28th May, 1890.

(2.)

F. FLEMING.

The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote a sum of Five hundred dollars, ($500), for improving the drainage of Italian Convent.

Government House, Hongkong, 31st May, 1890.

(3.)

F. FLEMING.

The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote a sum of Sixty-three Dollars, ($63), as a compassionate allowance to the mother of the late Chinese Police Constable No. 265, KEUNG TIM, who served in the Police Force for upwards of 14 years.

The allowance to be equal to one month's pay for every three years of service.

Government House, Hongkong, 4th June, 1890.

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(4.)

F. FLEMING.

The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote a sum of Sixty Dollars, ($60), being additional salary to First Wardmaster in the Government Civil Hospital at $10 per month, for Six months of 1890.

The agreement being $70 per month for the first year, $80 per month for the second year, and $90 per month for the third year.

Government House, Hongkong, 5th June, 1890.

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

His Excellency addressed the Council on the Minutes in connection with the salary of the Musketry Instructor and Storekeeper of Police, the drainage of the Italian Convent, and the additional salary to the First Wardmaster to the Government Civil Hospital.

Question—put and agreed to.

VOTES PASSED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.—The Acting Colonial Secretary, by direction of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee, dated the 30th ultimo, (No. 10), and moved that the following Votes referred to therein be passed, viz.:— C.S.O.

476 of 1890. Works in the Wongneichung Valley, inside the Race Course, ...................................................... $ 8,000.00

Additional sum required to defray the salaries and rations of Nursing Staff for the Civil Hospital, for six months of 1890, viz.:—

Additional Salaries:—

1 Head Nurse, 6 months, .......................................................................................... $ 60.00

5 Nurses, (one new), 6 months, ................................................................................ 360.00 1 Amah, 6 months, .................................................................................................... 24.00 $ 444.00

Rations—for one more Nurse, 6 months, ............................................... 90.00

$ 534.00

C.S.O.

1833 of 1889. Expenses incurred in carrying out an experiment as to the possibility of successfully and economically cultivating in the Colony bovine vaccine lymph, ........................................... $ 230.80 C.S.O.

of 1890. Compassionate allowance to Mrs. MACBEAN, widow of the late Bailiff and Hindustani Interpreter in the Supreme Court, being the equivalent of 7 months' salary of her late husband, who was in the service of the Colony for Twenty-three years, and gave great satisfaction in the discharge of his duties, ................................................................................ $ 875.00

The Attorney General seconded.

Question—put and agreed to.

The Council then went into Committee to consider the Report of the Special Committee to frame New Standing Rules and Orders.

The Attorney General moved and the Acting Colonial Secretary seconded that the four last paragraphs in Rule 28 be struck out.

Question—put and agreed to.

The Attorney General moved and the Acting Colonial Secretary seconded that at the end of Rule 40 the following words be added:—"unless at this stage of the proceedings the Bill be referred to a Special or Standing Committee."

Question—put and agreed to.

The Attorney General moved and the Acting Colonial Secretary seconded that the following additional Rule be inserted after Rule 40:—

"When a Bill shall have been referred to, and reported on by, one of the Standing Committees appointed under Rule 48, and it shall be certified by the Chairman of such Standing Committee that such Bill has been considered clause by clause in the presence of all the Members of such Standing Committee at least and that, in the opinion of the Committee, such Bill may be dealt with by the Council in the same manner as a Bill reported on by a Committee of the whole Council, such Bill may be dealt with accordingly if no Member object, but if any Member object the Bill shall be dealt with in the same manner as a Bill reported on by a Special Committee."

Question—put and agreed to.

The Council then resumed.

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The Attorney General moved and the Acting Colonial Secretary seconded that the report of the Special Committee appointed to frame New Standing Rules and Orders as amended be adopted. Question—put and agreed to.

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR AND REGULATE THE SUPPLY OF WATER IN THE COLONY OF HONGKONG AND FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF THE WORKS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.—The Attorney General moved the first reading of this Bill.

The Acting Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question—put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE No. 4 OF 1865 RELATING TO OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON.—The Attorney General moved the first reading of this Bill.

The Acting Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question—put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

BILL ENTITLED THE MAGISTRATES' ORDINANCE, 1890.—Council in Committee on the Bill.

Progress reported.

Council resumed.

ADJOURNMENT.—The Council then adjourned till Monday, the 16th instant, at 3 P.M.

F. FLEMING,

Officer Administering the Government.

Read and confirmed, this 16th day of June, 1890.

F. A. HAZELAND,

Acting Clerk of Councils.