Sessional_Paper_1891 — Page 21

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8. That this very proper and reasonable course has not been adopted; that the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies in his telegram and despatch of the 13th February last demands payment as of money due on the footing of the original vote; that the matter was brought before the Finance Committee of this Council as a re-vote and that all discussion was stifled and all time for consideration refused on the ground that it was only a re-vote and that further discussion, if not absolutely forbidden, was a mere waste of time; that the re-vote, (carried in the Financial Committee simply by the casting vote of the Chairman), came before this Council for confirmation on the same footing, and that the Un-official Members are within their right in refusing now to allow the vote to be supported on grounds other than those on which it was originally granted.

9. The Un-official Members therefore protest against this re-vote, forced through Council in opposition to their views and to the views and opinions of the vast majority of the Colonists and they protest against the payment of the money so voted and against the action of the Imperial Government in demanding the money when the promises on the faith of which it was granted have not been fulfilled.

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P. RYRIE. C. P. CHATER. J. J. KESWICK. HO KAI.

T. H. WHItehead.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBERS,

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HONGKONG, 19th March, 1891.

The Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would ask the following questions:---

1. What was the total expenditure of the Government under the head of salaries for the years 1887, 1888, 1889, and 1890, and what is the estimated total expenditure for the current year under the same heading on the basis of the increased pay and allowances recommended by this Council?

2. What was the total expenditure on the Public Works Department in the years 1887, 1888, 1889, and 1890, for salaries and wages, and what is the estimated expenditure under the same heading for the current year on the Public Works Department and Water and Drainage Department combined?

3. How is it that there has been no meeting of the Public Works Committee appointed in October

last?

4. Does the Government intend to give effect to the recommendation of the Un-official Members in their addendum of the 20th December, 1890, to submit to the Public Works Committee full details and estimates of all Public Works?

5. What arrangements have been made for examining and checking accounts sent to the Treasury for payment, and have any difficulties arisen, since the new system of audit was introduced, in checking and examining accounts for payment?

6. What are the duties of the Treasury Department and the Treasurer, under the new organization

of that department?

Honourable J. J. KESWICK asked the following question:-

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in

Will the Government inform the Council whether in view of the piracy of the Namoa

December last any steps have been taken for special Police supervision of native passengers embarking on steamers, and if not is it the intention of the Government to adopt any measures whatever?

The Acting Colonial Secretary and His Excellency replied.

Consideration of the resolution to be proposed by the Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD of which notice had been given at the previous meeting of Council was, with His Excellency's permission, post- poned till next meeting.

BILL ENTITLED " AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS ORDINANCE, 1886.”- The Attorney General moved that this Bill be read a second time.

The Acting Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

The Council then went into Committee on the Bill,

Bill reported without amendment.