Sessional_Paper_1891 — Page 85

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 29.

MONDAY, 7TH DECEMBER, 1891. ·

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PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT (Major-General G. Digby Barker, C.B.).

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

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the Acting Attorney General, (ANDREW JOHN LEACH).

the Registrar. General, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART).

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

the Acting Surveyor General, (FRANCIS ALFRED COOPER).

the Acting Harbour Master, (WILLIAM CHARLES HOLLAND HASTINGS). PHINEAS RYRIE.

JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.

Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.

ABSENT:

The Honourable CATCHICK PAUL CHATER.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 4th December, 1891, were read and confirmed. The Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD moved the following resolution :---

In consequence of the fact that the cost of the Administrative Staff of the Government of Hongkong is constantly increasing, having risen from $547,650 in 1887, to the enormous amount of $758,139 in 1891 and to the still larger estimated sum of about $800,000 for 1892 exclusive of $65,200 for Pensions for 1892 it is incumbent on the Un-official Members of Council, who being the lawfully constituted guardians of the public purse, to earnestly consider and strenuously urge upon the Government the necessity for retrenchment in every possible direction more especially when it is remembered that the Colony's financial position is not strong, that we are threatened with a shrinkage in its revenue in the near future, and that our position with reference to Opium, and the revenue derived therefrom is precarious, that Government appoint a Commission composed of Members exclusive of Government Officials with full powers to enquire into and report on the working of all the Departments of the Government with the view to retrenchment, and to the desirability or otherwise of the redistribution of work, the amalgamation of certain offices, the increasing of the hours of the official day, privileges in the way of leave, &c.

Honourable P. RYRIE Seconded.

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The Council divided and the resolution was rejected by seven to three votes.

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BILL ENTITLED "AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE BUILDING ORDINANCE, 1889."-The Acting Attorney General moved that the Bill be recommitted.

The Acting Surveyor General seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed and Bill reported with amendments.

The Acting Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.

The Acting Surveyor General seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.