Sessional_Paper_1887-1888 — Page 21

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 9.

TUESDAY, 28TH FEBRUARY, 1888.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(SIR G. WILLIAM DES VEUX, K.C.M.G.)

His Honour the Acting Chief Justice (JAMES RUSSELL, C.M.G.), rice His Honour SIR

GEORGE PHILLIPPO, Knt., on leave.

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (FREDERICK STEWART).

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

the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER).

the Surveyor General, (Jons MACNEILE PRICE).

the Harbour Master, (HENRY GEORGE THOMSETT, R.N.). PHINEAS RYRIE.

WONG SHING.

ALEXANDER PALMER MACEWEN.

JOHN BELL-IRVING.

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER.

The Council met pursuant to adjourninent.

SWEARING IN OF MEMBER.--Mr. JOHN BELL-IRVING, was, pursuant to Her Majesty's Warrant dated the 7th January, 1888, duly sworn in and admitted a Member of the Council, in the room of Mr. WILLIAM KESWICK, resigned.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 16th instant, were read and confirmed.

C. O. Desp. No. 5 of 10th

PAPERS.—Read a Despatch from the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Jan., 1588. Colonies respecting the recent Jubilee celebrations in the Colony, and expressing Her Majesty's deep regret at the unfortunate incidents that occurred at the time.

The Colonial Secretary, by direction of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the follow- ing paper:-

Return of Tonnage, &c. entered the Colony in 1887. (No.).

VOTES OF MONEY REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-Read the following Minutes by His Excellency the Governor:-

C.S:0. 2043 of 1887.

G. WILLIAM DES VEUX.

(1.)

The Governor recomiends the Council to vote the sum of Three hundred Dollars as a $300. Colonial contribution towards the maintenance of the Royal Naval Seamen's Club.

C.5.0.

2791 of 1887, and

It is not unusual for Colonies, the water of which are frequented by Her Majesty's ships, to give assistance to similar institutions, which provide amusement, food, and lodging for the Seamen, and thus attract them from undesirable and injurious places of resort.

The Commodore has represented the difficulty of maintaning this Club on account of the heavy cost of rent and taxes, and has requested the remission of the latter. But while deeming it right to give some assistance in recognition of the usefulness of the institution, the Governor regards this particular form of concession as likely to become an inconvenient precedent, and he therefore recommends the above vote, the amount of which is the same as the contribution of the Admiralty.

Government House, Hongkong, 22nd February, 1888.

G. WILLIAM DES VEUX.

(2.)

The Governor recommends the Council to vote the sum of Five hundred and Eighty-eight Dollars, for the salaries of Collector, Assistant Collector and Coolie employed in the Treasury $5ss. for collecting Village Taxes and Squatter's Licence Fees.

395 of 1SSS.

These items were inadvertently omitted in the Treasurer's Estimates for 1888.

Collector,....

Assistant Collector,......

Coolie,

Government House, Hongkong, 27th February, 1888.

.$ 240.00

240.00

108.00

588.00