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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
A meeting of the Legislative Council was held on Friday afternoon. Present:-}
His Excellency the Governor, Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, K.C.M.G..
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.
[August 21, 1895
(1)
is explained in the resolution. I move That the percentages on the valuation of tene ments in Yaumati aud Kowloon Point at present payable as rates under the Rating Ordinance, 1888, as amended by Ordinance 5 of 1892 be al- tered from 10 per cent. to 121 per cent. (2) That the percentage on the valuation of tene
nents in Hunghom at present payable as rates ander the Rating Ordinance, 1883, as amended by Ordinance 5 of 1892, be altered from 81 per cent. to 10% per cent. (3) That the percentages on the valuation of tenements in Mong-kok- Act-tsui at present payable rates under the Rating Ordinance, 1888,-as-amended by Ordinance 5 of 1-92, be altered from 7 per cent to 9 per cent."
Hon. W. M. GOODMAN. Attorney-General. Hon. A. M. THOMSON, Acting Colonial Treasurer.
Hon. F. A. COOPER. Director of Public Works. Hon, Commander W. C. H. HASTINGS, ing Captain Superintendent of Police.
Hon. A. K. TRAVERS, Postmaster-General. Hon. C. P. Chater.
Hon. Ho KAI.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, CM.G. Hon. A. MCCONACHIE. Hon. J.
BELL-IRVING.
as
The ATTORNEY GENERAL seconded.
In answer to his Excellency,
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS said it was expected that the water would be supplied at
Mr. J. G. T. BUCKLE, Acting Clerk of high pressure at the beginning of next year. Councils.
THE PUBLICATION OF STORM WARNINGS. MINUTES.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-I beg to give notice shall put and confirmed.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read that at the next meeting of Council
THE MILITARY COSTRIBUTION.-STATEMENT
BY1 HE GOVERNOR.
ficent group, which consists of 408 islands | HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. | exclusive of rocks and uninhabited islets, contains an area of 113,400 square miles, and possesses landlocked waters, furnishing unrivalled facilities for interior munication, of almost equal superficies. The land everywhere is abundantly watered, abounding in rivers and lakes, and in almost every portion is of sur- passing fertility. Its productions are of the most varied description, and but for the apathy, of the inhabitants it would surpass in wealth any country in Asia. It was won for Spain almost entirely by the efforts of the priests, who have not only civilised and humanised the natives, but have brought a large share of the civil administra- tion of the islands under the rule of the Church. This has probably been an ad. vantage in the past, but the times have changed and the conditions call for some“ relaxation of rules and customs that press
the following question. In the report of the with great rigour on trade and effectually
Director of the Observatory for 1894 the fourth restrict all commercial enterprise. The time
paragraph runs:-"In my last annual report I is coming when Spain will have to justify. His EXCELLENCY-Gentlemen, when I ad-stated that Victoria Peak and Gap Rock would her raison d'être in the Philippines, and the journed the Council sine die on the 6th June I shortly be placed in direct communication with sooner this fact is recognised the better for said I hoped we would not meet for the regular the Observatory. This improvement has not session until the autumn October or Novem. yet been effected, and the wind observations Spanish interests. With a vigorous and pro- ber--but I also stated that it was possible made at Victoria Peak are often received too gressive neighbour like Japan, separated by
we might have one or two meetings in the mean-
late for insertion in the China Coast Register. only 175 miles of sea, it will not do. for the time. When I made that statement I had in and latterly no observations have been received Spaniards to go to sleep in the drowsy at my mind Brst, the question of the military con- until about 2.30 p.m. and frequently later than mosphere of Luzon. They will need to bring tribution and second the question of the British this each day. This apparently arises to a great their customs regulations into harmony with dollar. With regard to the military contribu- extent from the roundabout method by which those of civilised states, and they will do tion the Colonial Secretary will lay upon the the observations are forwarded to the United well to set to work to make roads and rail- table despatches and papers which, I may men- Telegraph Offices in Queen's Road for trans- ways in the islands. The fact that, after tion, were communicated to the unofficial mem-mission to the Observatory. The importance of bers some time ago, and the documents have had the wind observations from Victoria Peak bas more than three centuries of Spanish occupa- their consideration. I may also add that the frequently been insisted on by me, but their tion, much of the archipelago remains to be Government and the unofficial members are of value is at once discounted through the delay in explored and not a little to be subdued, is opinion that although there is a sensible reduc transmission." In view of the great importance a sad commentary on the laxity of the tion in the contribution proposed there are cer- of the storm warnings to the shipping of the Spaniards and their failure to perform their tain items of the revenue which ought to be ex- port, and the impossibility of the Director of duty as administrators. The islands of empted, as they have been in the Straits the Observatory giving accurate weather fore Settlements. These items might reasonably be casts unless supplied with the wind observations Mindanao and Palawan are still almost un-called municipal items, and when the matter has promptly, way I ask if steps have since been knownto their nominal rulers and many been fully enquired into locally I shall refer the taken to ensure the early and regule transmis of the coasts have been very imperfectly matter to the Secretary of State in the hope that sion of such observations from the Peak and surveyed. Perhaps the near vicinityof a he will take the same view of the question as has Gap Rock to the observatory, and to whose growing maritime Power on their northern been taken in the Straits Settlements, and as is neglect was due the delay in carrying into boundary may arouse the indolent Spa-held by the unofficial members and the Govern- thorough effect so obviously necessary a system niard to greater activity in the future. ment. With regard to the British dollar you will of communication ?
see a reference in the papers to an Ordinance to prevent the defacing or chopping of the coin. It is very necessary that this Ordinance and the other three Ordinances on the paper should pass through all their stage this afternoon, and I hope hon. members will consent to that being
THE SITUATION IN SOUTH FORMOSA.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Anping, 16th August. Perfect tranquility contiones to be the order of the day, but the prospects of trade are not encouraging, owing to the uncertainty of the future and the difficulty of establishing a cash system, upon which basis alone is business now possible.
H.M.S. Redbreast left for Amoy yesterday, and the port is now without protection, which speaks well for the confidence placed in Lin The community would feel perfectly content to be without a guard ware they sure that the British fleet were actively engaged in obtaining relress for the cruel massacre near Foochow, news of which reached this by the Thales.
A private letter from a resident in Anping was received in Hongkong yesterday. It stated that the Japanese army was within fifteen miles of Anping The journey before the soldiers, who number five thousand, was very rough and hilly and therefore they would not arrive in Anping for four or five days. Four thousand rebels were preparing to resist to the utmost the entrance of the Japanese into Anping, and heavy fighting was expected.
A Foochow telegram of the 12th inst. to tho Mercury says:-Last night at eight o'clock two stones were thrown into the Foochow Club. The Foreign cemetery has been broken into, and some iron railings stolen.
done,
DOCUMENTS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-With Your Excellency's permission I will answer that ques- tion at once by informing the hon. member that the Peak and Telegraph Office are now in direct communication, and that hourly observations are telegraphed across to the Observatory. (Ap- plause).
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-Thank you.
THE PLANS FOR THE NEW GOVERNMENT
i OFFICES. Hon. E. R. BELILIOS then asked the follow-
previous meeting-Is it the intention of the Government to invite competitive designs from local architects for the proposed new Govern- ment offices, or do the Government propose that the designs shall be prepared and the work carried out by the Public Works Department ?
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid the following documents on the table-Despatches with refer- ence to the Military Contribution, Acting Asses- sur's Report on the Assessment for 1895-96, Post-ing question, of which he had given potice at the master General's report for 1894, Educational Report for 1894, Despatch respecting the repeal of Ordinance 1 of 1864, Colonial Surgeon's Re- port for 1894, and a resort on the progress of Public Works for the first half of 1895.
FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the adoption of the report of the proceedings of the Finance Committee.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, Carried.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS moved the
adoption of the report of the proceedings of the
Public Works Committee.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. Carried.
NEW BY LAWS APPROVED.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved that two
by-laws made by the Sanitary Board be ap- One. referred to the adequate provision proved. of water for cattle and the other to the regula tion of public laundries.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL seconded. - Carried.
KOWLOON WATER SUPPLY. The COLONIAL SECRETARY-In moving the resolution that stands in my name I may explain that it refers to the laying on of water in certain districts in Kowloon. The usual course adopted when a district which has hitherto been without a water supply has water laid on is the one that
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The COLONIAL SECRETARY-The auswer to to the former part of the question is no, and to the latter part yes.
BILLS READ A FIRST TIME. The following Bills were, on the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL, seconded by the COLONIAL SECRETARY, read the first time:The River Steamers Ordinauce; an Ordinance to prohibit the defacing or chopping of British dollars; an Ordinance to amend the Trade Marka Ordinance, (Nos. 16 of 1273 and 8 of 1886), and an Ordin- ance to further amend the Merchant Shipping Consolidation Ordinance, No. 26 of 1891.
BILL WITHDRAWN.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL--Sir, I propose with your permission not to proceed any further with the reading of the Ordinanee to repeal Ordinance No. 1 of 1864 entitled "An Ordin.
ance
to provide for conversion of British currency in all payments by or to the Govern- ment." The Ordinance in question. No. 1 of 1864, has already been repealed by Her Majesty's Order in Council. Under the charter of the colony Her Majesty reserves to herself indepen dent power of legislation with the advice of her Privy Council; and as by an order of Her
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