Old Hong Kong-3 — Page 58

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (Cont.)

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As the Secretary of State approved of the general principle of the Ordinance which he disallowed, the Legislative Council substituted for it an amendment to the Companies' Ordinance of 1865, by introducing into it the principle of sub-division of shares. But now the Chief Justice joined with the Unofficial Members in their opposition to the Bill and it was accordingly withdrawn.

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Sir John Pope Hennessy arrived in the Colony in 1877. The only legislative measure of the year was a proviso added to the Companies' Ordinance that the amount to which shares may be reduced by sub-division shall in no case be less than one-fourth of the original share.

Next year, three very brief ordinances were passed, viz., a Chinese Emigration (Special Licences) Ordinance, a Gaol Amendment Ordinance and a Markets Ordinance. More work was done in 1879. Two Opium Excise Ordinances (1 of 1879 and 7 of 1879), an Amendment of the Emigration Ordinance (6 of 1879) and a bulky Merchant Shipping Consolidation Ordinance (8 of 1879) were passed in 1879, but had to be further amended in the year 1880. In the later year a short Ordinance (6 of 1880), giving the French mail-steamers the status of men-of-war for twelve months, was passed and thenceforth annually re-enacted. A Naturalization Ordinance (4 of 1880), giving a European resident (E.J. Eitel) the privileges of a British subject within the Colony but not elsewhere, having been approved by the Queen, was in subsequent years followed by an annual batch of such Ordinances, as Chinese residents now began to attribute great value to such naturalization, limited as it was. A few more Ordinances were passed in 1881, dealing with Macao Extradition (1 of 1881), the Census (2 of 1881), the Naturalization of Chinese (5 to 10 of 1881), banishment and conditional pardons (12 of 1881) and a fresh Amendment of the Companies' Ordinance (14 of 1881). Finally, in January, 1882, a Tramway Ordinance provided for liberty to establish tramways from West Point to Shaukiwan and from St. John's Place to Victoria Gap.

As to the constitution of the Council, the Hon. Ph. Ryrie on February 26, 1880 brought forward the question whether the Governor would recommend an addition to the number of unofficial members, on the ground that the proportion of three unofficial to five official members (besides the Governor) was unsatisfactory. Sir John stated that he had already made this recommendation to the Secretary of State, suggesting that the number of unofficial Members be raised to four or five. In the following year, another unofficial member (Hon. Mr. E.R. Belilios) was added.

The old complaint of insufficient time being allowed members to examine the Estimates was again brought forward and it was eventually arranged that if any general discussion were thought desirable, it might be raised on the motion to go into committee.

The question of a proper system for reporting debates was also raised in 1881 by the unofficial members who suggested the employment of a shorthand writer. Sir John promised to consider the matter but no such appointment was made in his time.

The rest of Sir John's career in Hongkong has been covered in previous articles. Suffice now to say that it was a turbulent career. The Colony, however, emerged from the ordeal of his administration practically unscathed.

Since Sir John Pope Hennessy's day, there have been many changes. The Unofficial Members still are in the minority, despite the fact that their numbers have grown to eight as against ten official members. Gone are the days of fierce debates and bitter recriminations. The business of the Council to-day is conducted expeditiously and in an atmosphere of the utmost decorum. That is because the spade work has been done. The verbal pyrotechnics were necessary in the old days in order that solid foundations be laid for beneficial legislation.