Sessional_Paper_1886-1887 — Page 31

€.5.0.

35 of 1887.

Read a Minute by the Surveyor General respecting the selection of a site for a Temporary

Central Market, pending the construction of the Permanent Market.

The Surveyor General moved that this Minute be referred to the Public Works Committee. The Acting Colonial Secretary seconded:

Question-put and passed.

62 of 1886.

C. O. Deep Read a Despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, sanctioning the gratuity of $870 voted by the Council to Mrs. SAMPSON, widow of the late First Boarding Officer in the Harbour Department.

PAPERS.--The Acting Colonial Secretary, by direction of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid on the table the following papers :---

1. Correspondence respecting Child Adoption and Domestic Service among Chinese, (No. 4). 2. Correspondence respecting the question of Diplomatic and Consular assistance to British.

Trade abroad, (No. 3).

3. Despatch respecting extension of the Governor's leave, (No. 3).

4. Further Correspondence respecting Deaths in the Italian and French Convents, (No. §) QUESTION. Mr. CHATER, pursuant to notice, asked :—

Whether His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government of Hongkong has received any instructions from the Secretary of State for the Colonies with regard to a Conference to be held in London in April next to discuss the defences of the Empire and an Imperial system of telegraph extension.

If so, what are those instructions, and what action does His Excellency propose to take? If not, are not these two subjects of sufficient importance to warrant His Excellency in telegraphing to the Home Government to ascertain if any such instructions are on the way or in contemplation?

The Officer Administering the Government replied, and laid on the table the following paper:

Correspondence respecting the nomination of a representative to take part in a Confer- ence to be held in London for the purpose of discussing certain questions of common interest to all parts of the Empire, (No. 33).

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE PROMISSORY OATHS ORDINANCE, 1869.-The Acting Attorney General, moved the second reading of this Bill, and addressed the Council on the objects and reasons of it.

The Acting Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and passed.

Bill read a second time.

BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE No. 8 of 1879.-On the motion of the Acting Attorney General, seconded by Captain THOMSETT, the Council went into Committee on this Bill.

After some discussion, Mr. RYRIE moved that consideration be postponed until next meeting. The Acting Attorney General seconded.

Question-put and passed.

POSTPONEMENT OF THE OTHER ORDER OF THE DAY.-The Acting Attorney General moved that, in consequence of the absence of the Treasurer, the other Order of the Day be postponed..

Question-put and passed.

ADJOURNMENT.--The Council was then adjourned to Friday, the 14th instant, at 4 P.M.

Read and confirmed, this 14th day of January, 1887.

ARATHOON SETH,

Clerk of Councils.

W. H. MARSH, Administering the Government.