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Committee, discontent which, he says, is not "confined to two or three persons; "but has been universal for many years past." Since I came to the Colony in 1879, I have never heard of this alleged universal discontent and dissatisfaction, nor can I find any evidence of its existence in the past, and I believe that any dis- satisfaction which may now exist is far from being universal, and that it dates principally, if not wholly, from the resolutions passed this year in favour of a further large vote for Fortifications and of the raising of the Loan at home instead of here, both which decisions were undoubtedly most unpopular. In 1878 when Governor HENNESSY informed the Council that he intended to recommend to the Secretary of State that the meetings of the Finance Committee should in future be held in public, he appears to have made this suggestion spontaneously and not in consequence of any representations of public dissatisfaction.

It

5. The resolution of the Honourable A. P. MACEWEN was met by an amend- ment proposed by the Acting Attorney General that, "it is not necessary to inter- "fere with the present practice of Council which has been in existence for many "years and which was unanimously adopted by the Standing Rules and Orders of "Council dated 10th April, 1884." This amendment was supported by the Treasurer and the Chief Justice, and was carried by a majority of three votes. is strange that, when Sir GEORGE BOWEN laid before the Council for approval on 10th April, 1884, the new Standing Rules and Orders, which had been drafted by a Committee composed of the Attorney General, the Treasurer and Messrs. RYRIE (the seconder of Mr. MACEWEN's resolution), SASSOON, and WONG SHING, the universal discontent and dissatisfaction, alleged to have prevailed for many years past, did not prompt some member either to object to the appointment of the Finance Com- mittee or to propose that its meetings should be held with open doors. Instead of this, the new Standing Rules were unanimously adopted.

6. It was pointed out by the supporters of the amendment that the resolution was unnecessary, since it was competent to any member, when the adoption of any Report of a Finance Committee was moved in Council, to raise a full public discussion thereon without any previous resolution. It has not been the practice, however, to do this, and resolutions which have been fully discussed and decided in Finance Committee, have generally been passed afterwards by the Council without any observations or comment. The public consequently have had no means of ascertaining the reasons which have induced the Finance Committee to vote the different items, and I admit that in this respect they have some ground for com- plaint; but it seems to me that it is not the fault of the Government, if the Un- official Members give a silent vote in favour of sums, the payment of which has been discussed and recommended by the Finance Committee.

7. I have felt for some time past and before the present discussion was raised by Mr. MACEWEN, that the public had very meagre information on the subject of votes of money that were proposed by Government, and, if a reference is made to my Minutes of the present year, and they are compared with those of previous years, it will be seen that I have endeavoured to embody therein much füller in- formation than has hitherto been given. When I first arrived in Hongkong no Minutes of the Governor, asking for votes of money, were laid before the Council. The papers were merely referred by the Governor to the Finance Committee and a vote was subsequently asked for and given without any explanation having been given at any time to the public. I think it a healthy sign that the indifference which at that time prevailed with regard to public expenditure has passed away, and that much keener interest is now manifested in the proceedings of Government.

As has

8. I am disposed to think that by explaining fully in the Governor's Minutes the reasons why any votes of money are asked for; by laying before the Council the Reports of the Finance Committee, which has never been done before the last meet- ing of Council; and by volunteering further explanation when the adoption of that Report is moved, sufficient publicity will be given to the reasons for voting money, without admitting the public to the meetings of the Finance Committee. been pointed out to the Council by the Chief Justice, the Acting Attorney General, and the Treasurer, and, as I observed in my Minute of 17th July, the admission of reporters to these meetings would preclude Government in many cases from supplying important information of a wholly confidential nature. This was forcibly exem- plified in the case of the recent large vote for Fortifications, when a great deal of infor- mation was asked for and was given, which would necessarily have been withheld, if there had been reporters present at the meetings of the Finance Committee.

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