Sessional_Paper_1894 — Page 24

20

PAPERS.-The Acting Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following Sessional Papers :--

1. Governor's Despatch to the Secretary of State with reference to the Plague.

2. The Assessor's Report on the Assessment for 1894-95,

3. The Acting Sanitary Superintendent's Report for 1893.

4. The Acting Postmaster General's Report for 1893.

5. Report on the Caterpillar Plague by the Acting Superintendent, Botanical and Afforesta-

tion Department.

6. Report on the Progress of the Public Works during the first half-year 1894.

7. Reports on the Hongkong Volunteer Corps.

8. Parliamentary Paper explanatory of the functions of the Crown Agents for the Colonies. BYE-LAWS.-The Acting Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, moved the adoption of the following Bye-laws, made by the Sanitary Board:-

BYE-LAWS

Made by the Sanitary Board under Section 18, Sub-sections 13, 14, and 16 of "The Public Health Ordinance, 1887," to give effect to Section 30 of the said Ordinance.

Bye-law No. 5 of the Bye-laws made by the Sanitary Board under the above mentioned section on the 11th day of September, 1889, in relation to the licensing and keeping of cattle, swine, sheep and goats, and approved by the Legislative Council on the 20th day of November, 1889, is hereby revoked and in lieu thereof the following bye-law is substituted :--

I

5 (a) Each sheep and goat shall have at least 8 square feet of standing room and 90 cubic

feet of air space.

(b) Each pig shall have at least 8 square feet of standing room, and every pig sty shall be not less than 4 feet in height at its lowest part, and shall be thoroughly ventilated to the satisfaction of the Board.

The Acting Attorney General seconded.

Question put--that these Bye-laws do pass.

Bye-laws passed.

QUESTIONS.--Mr. MCCONACHIE, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions :-

(a) Will the Government inform the Council what steps they intend to take or are now taking for increasing the water supply to the city? What will be the estimated additional storage, the probable cost, and description of the proposed new works, and how long they will take to complete?

(b) Is it contemplated to raise the height of the Tytam Dam, if so, how much?

(e) If any, and what provision, is being made (temporary or otherwise) for increasing the water

supply to the city during the coming dry season?

(d) Does the "Water Authority" anticipate there will be any necessity to curtail the daily water

supply during the coming dry season as has been done regularly for the last few years?

The Acting Colonial Secretary replied.

Mr. CHATER, pursuant to notice, asked the following question :-

I would beg to call His Excellency's attention to the constant complaints that are being made as to the state of the roads, and the inconvenience and danger arising from their continually being taken up in the most crowded thoroughfares, and to ask whether any steps are being taken permanently to remedy this state of things?

His Excellency the Governor replied.

NOTICE OF QUESTION.--Mr. CHATER gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would ask the following question :—

As the plague is now virtually stamped out, the deaths and admissions during the last week having been very few, is it contemplated to withdraw the Proclamation declaring Hongkong to be an infected port, and if so when?

C

BILL ENTITLED (4

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE WOMEN AND GIRLS' PROTECTION Ordinance, 1890,' and ORDINANCE No. 14 or 1891, entitled 'AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE WOMEN AND GIRLS' PROTECTION ORDINANCE, 1890.'"-The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of the Bill

The Acting Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to nem, con.

Bill read a first time.