Sessional_Paper_1895 — Page 43

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 13.

THURSDAY, 5TH DECEMBER, 1895.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.).

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The Honourable the Colonial Secretary and Registrar General, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART

LOCKHART).

the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN).

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the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (ALEXANDER MACDONALD THOMSON). the Director of Public Works, (FRANCIS ALFRED COOPER).

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the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

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the Acting Captain Superintendent of Police, (WILLIAM CHARLES HOLLAND

HASTINGS, R.N.).

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER.

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

EMANUEL RAPHAEL BELILIOS, C.M.G.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD. ALEXANDER MCCONACHIE.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

NEW MEMBER.-Commander W. C. H. HASTINGS took the oath of allegiance on his provisional appointment to a seat in the Council.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 25th November, 1895, were read and confirmed.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee dated 25th November, 1895, (No. 8), and moved its adoption.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE.-The Director of Public Works laid on the table the report of the Public Works Committee dated 25th November, 1895, (No. 4), and moved its adoption.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

QUESTION. Mr. CHATER, by special permission of His Excellency the Governor, asked the following question :-

Will the Government lay upon the table copies of all the correspondence that has passed between the Government of Hongkong and the Colonial Office on the subject of the Military Contribution since the receipt here of the Marquess of Ripon's despatch on that subject of the 27th June, 1895?

The Colonial Secretary replied and laid upon the table the Despatches on the subject of the Military Contribution.

NOTICE OF QUESTIONS.-Mr. BELILIOS gave notice that at the next Meeting of Council he would ask the following questions:-

Will the Government be good enough to say why (experiments having shown the practicability of such a course) steps are not taken to pump up sea water to the higher levels with which to wash out the drains?

Will the Government kindly inform the Council of the reasons for the suspension, for many months, of all work upon, and apparent indefinite postponement of completion of, the base and pedestal for the Jubilee statue of Her Majesty the Queen? Is there any insuperable obstacle in the. way of the erection of this statue, which has now for nearly a year been interned in a godown, instead of being placed in the position for which it was designed?

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

(1)

Will the Government lay upon the table a copy of the correspondence which has passed between the Government, including the elaborate memorandum of the honourable the Colonial Secretary which accompanied it, and the home officials, and between the latter and the Colonial Govern- ment concerning the petition from the ratepayers of Hongkong to the Commons of England