PRESENT:―
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25TH FEBRUARY, 1901.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR (Sir HENRY BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. W. MEIGH GOODMAN. K.C. (Attorney-General). Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer).
Hon. R. D. ORMSBY (Director of Public Works). Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Captain Superintendent of Police).
Hon. BASIL TAYLOR (Acting Harbour Master). Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. Dr. HO KAI.
Hon. J. THURBURN.
Hon. R. M. GRAY.
Hon. J. J. KESWICK.
Hon. WEI A YUK.
Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Acting Clerk of Councils).
PAPER.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the returns of the Superior Court for the year 1900.
FINANCIAL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table Financial Minute No. 9, and moved that it be referred to the Finance Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was carried.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee (No. 3) and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was carried.
THE PUNISHMENT OF FLOGGING.
The ATTORNEY -GENERAL proposed the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to the Punishment of Flogging. He said―I should like to say that this Bill does not alter the law, but makes clear the present state of the law, which is rather difficult to gather from the various alterations in the different Ordinances.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was carried.
THE LAWS RELATING TO TRUSTEES.
The ATTORNEY -GENERAL proposed the third reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to Trustees. He said―This Bill was referred some time ago to the Standing Law Committee. It was examined by that committee and certain amendments were made. As amended by the committee I propose that the Bill be read a third time.
read a third time and passed.
THE LAWS RELATING TO RATING.
The next item on the agenda was―"Third reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to Rating."
The ATTORNEY -GENERAL said―Just before coming into the Council it was pointed out to me that in the definition of the city of Victoria the eastern boundary is described as― "A straight line from the skew bridge at the south-west corner of Causeway Bay to Wong-nai Chung public school-house, produced southward until it meets the southern boundary." I am informed that the skew bridge here mentioned has been recently done away with. I therefore put myself into communication with the Director of Public Works, and he suggested that instead of the words "skew bridge" we should use the words "centre of the nullah crossing the Shaukiwan Road." In order that the alteration may be made I propose that the Council go into committee to consider the clause relating to the definition of the city.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the motion was carried.
While in committee the Council agreed to the suggested alteration, and on the Council resuming the Bill was, on the motion of the ATTORNEY -GENERAL, seconded by the COLONIAL SECRETARY, read a third time and passed.
THE LAW OF LIBEL AND SLANDER.
The ATTORNEY -GENERAL proposed the second reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Law of Libel and Slander. The Bill, he said, brought the law of Hongkong into line with that of England. The Chief Justice was preparing a new edition of the Statute Laws of the Colony, and in the course of considering the defamation and Libel Ordinance, 1887, for insertion in that work, it was noticed that a mendments had not been made in this colony, although the Imperial legislation on which the Ordinance was based had been modified by recent Acts of Parliament. The present Bill, in conjunction with the Ordinance of 1887, would have that effect.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was carried.
The Council then went into committee to consider the Bill clause by clause, and on the Council resuming, no alterations having been made, the Bill was read a third time and passed.
RIGHTS OF NATURALISED PERSONS.
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subjects, it must be understood that the children not born in the Colony, of deceased persons, for whom a
The ATTORNEY -GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to repeal all Ordinances for the naturalisation of persons as British subjects within this colony, and to make provision for the preservation of the rights of such persons. He said he only wished to move the second reading, without going into Committee, as he desired the Bill to stand over till next meeting, there being some few cases of persons mentioned in the schedule not having taken the oath of allegiance. It was probable that some of these persons were dead, but some of the others might possibly come forward. In the case of those who had taken the oath but were dead, he did not think it would be wise to strike them out, because the question might arise as to whether their children were born after naturalisation. In the case of the others who had not taken the oath, it was quite clear their names should be struck out.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the motion was carried.
The consideration of the Bill in committee was deferred.
It was pointed out by His Excellency that while all children born in the Colony during British rule are British
Naturalisation Ordinance had been passed, but who had not taken the oath presented in such Ordinance, are not British subjects, and that to become so they require naturalisation.
REVISION OF JURY LIST.
The question of the revision of the jury list was considered privately by the Council, which rose immediately after.
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MEETING OF THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was held immediately after the Council meeting, the Colonial Secretary presiding.
There was only one minute recommending the Council to vote a sum of $260.42 to defray a portion of the cost of extra provisions supplied to the New Territory Police Stations during the disturbances in June last.
The vote was agreed to.
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