Sessional_Paper_1891 — Page 39

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 12.

FRIDAY, 19TH JUNE, 1891.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT Major-General G. DIGBY BARKER, C.B.

The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN).

the Acting Attorney General, (ANDREW JOHN Leach).

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the Captain Superintendent of Police, (WALTER Meredith Deane, C.M.G.). the Registrar General, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART).

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the Colonial Treasurer, (NORMAN GILBERT MITCHELL-INNES).

the Surveyor General, (SAMUEL BROWN).

PHINEAS RYRIE.

JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.

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HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

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ABSENT:

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.

The Honourable CATCHICK PAUL CHATER.

The Council met pursuant to notice.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 5th June, 1891, were read and confirmed. PAPERS LAID ON THE TABLE.-The Acting Colonial Secretary, by direction of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid on the table the following Sessional Papers, viz. :-

Report on the Blue Book and Departmental Reports for 1890. (No. 22 of 1891.)

The Educational Report for 1890. (No. 23 of 1891.)

Despatches respecting Increase of Salaries of Public Officers. (No. 24 of 1891.)

VOTE REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Acting Colonial Secretary by command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid on the table the following Minute and moved that it be referred to the Finance Committee :-

C.S.0. 1266 of 1891.

G. DIGBY BARKER.

The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote a sum of Three thousand Dollars, ($3,000), to provide for the cost of extending the works of “Peak Water Supply" to Magazine Gap.

Government House, Hongkong, 10th June, 1891.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

The Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would move the following resolutions, viz. :--

1. That the existence of gambling houses in Chinese Kowloon and the toleration of gambling by the authorities there is, and has been for some time past, a very serious cause of annoyance and injury to the inhabitants of this Colony and tends to render inoperative recent legislation in Hongkong against gambling.

2. That the Government be requested to move the Chinese authorities with a view to the entire

suppression of public gambling, and gambling houses at Chinese Kowloon.

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

Whether it is a fact that Members of the Legislative Council are precluded from either voting for or nominating any canditate for election to the Sanitary Board, although such Members are Ratepayers?

The Acting Colonial Secretary replied.

BILL ENTITLED

"AN ORDINANCE TO LICENSE THE PRESENT CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEP- TION FOR THE CELEBRATION OF MARRIAGES FROM THE TIME OF ITS OPENING." -The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of this Bill.

The Acting Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.