Sessional_Paper_1885-1886 — Page 4

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL No. 1.

WEDNESDAY, 7TH OCTOBER, 1885.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(SIR GEORGE FERGUSON BOWEN, G.C.M.G.)

His Honour the Chief Justice, (SIR GEORGE PHILLIPPo, Knt.)

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

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

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the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER.)

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the Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE.)

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PHINEAS RYRIE.

THOMAS JACKSON,

FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON.

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WONG SHING.

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ABSENT:

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (WILLIAM HENRY MARSH, C.M.G.), on leave.

WILLIAM KESWICK, on leave.

Pursuant to Proclamation, the Council met. The chair was taken by the Chief Justice as Senior Member.

At 5 o'clock P.M., the Clerk of Councils read the Proclamation convening the Council, as follows:-

No. 11.

[L.S.] G. F. BOWEN.

PROCLAMATION.

By His Excellency Sir GEORGE FERGUSON BOWEN, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hong- kong and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same.

Whereas the Legislative Council of Hongkong stands prorogued to Tuesday, the 15th day of September instant, now I, Sir GEORGE FERGUSON BOWEN, in exercise of the powers in me vested as Governor aforesaid, do hereby proclaim that the said Legislative Council is further prorogued to Wednesday, the 7th October, 1885, on which day it shall meet for the despatch of business at the hour of 5 o'clock in the afternoon in the Council Chamber, in the City of Victoria in the said Colony; and the Members of the Legislative Council are hereby required to give their attendance at the said time and place accordingly.

Given under my Hand and the public Seal of the Colony, this 5th day of September, 1885.

By Command,

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.

FREDERICK STEWART,

Acting Colonial Secretary.

His Excellency the Governor came into the Council Chamber, and having desired the Honourable Members to be seated, was pleased to speak as follows:-

Honourable GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

I have summoned you to meet at a somewhat earlier period of the year than on previous occasions, because, in addition to the Estimates for 1886, and to several important Legislative measures, I desire to submit for your consideration a Loan Bill, and a Bill to establish a Spirit Farm, similar to that successfully established in the neighbouring Colony of the Straits Settlements.

2. It will be remembered that, in opening the Session for 1884, I addressed you as follows:--- "Hongkong is probably the only State or Colony of importance, which at the present day is not only without a Public Debt, but which possesses assets nearly equal to its annual revenue. However, the existing balances will not be sufficient to carry out several Public Works, which are urgently required by this community, in addition to those 'strong and complete measures of sanitation,' which Mr. CHADWICK, (the Civil Engineer recently sent out from England), has reported to be absolutely