442
REPORTED OPENING OF THE WEST RIVER.
It is reported in Chinese official circles at Canton that Wachowfu, on the West River, is shortly to be opened to foreign trade. Shui- hing, it is said, will not be opened. It is further said that the opening of Wachowfu may take place within a month, and at any rate within two or three months. This news is im- portant if true. We repeat it simply on hearsay and cannot guarantee its accuracy.
It is also reported that in addition to the new ports mentioned in the treaty with Japan a port is to be opened in Hunan and three in Liaotung.
THE LIGHT AND PASS REGULATIONS.
We learn that a petition from the Chinese inhabitants with reference to the enforcement of the regulation requiring lights to be carried at night is to be sent in to the Registrar-General. No objection is raised to the regulation requiring passes to be taken out, the petition referring solely to the light question.
The petition sets out that at the time the re- gulations were first introduced there were very few gas lamps in the colony and no electric lights, and the conditions have therefore changed. The regulations have now again been enforced and persons found out at night without lamps are to be arrested, even those of high repute and females. Great alarm is felt and every branch of trade is suffering. For several tens of years the law has never been enforced as it is now. During all the time that people have not been required to carry lamps very few robberies have been committed. The prevention of crime does not depend on the carrying of lamps, but on the well ruling of the colony. The Ordinance says that one lamp will suffice for ten persons. Robbers can very easily get lamps and a gang of robbers with one lamp between them might easily break into shops and com- mit robberies. The Captain-Superintendent of Police is exerting himself for the welfare of Hongkong, but in this instance not in the proper way. The petitioners therefore request the abolition of the regulation requiring lights to be carried.
A NEW APPOINTMENT FOR STR
FIELDING CLARKE.
CHIEF JUSTICESHIP OF JAMAICA ACCEPTED.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
|
|
I
|
;
On Thursday Sir Fielding Clarke, the Chief Justice, decided to accept the post of Chief Justice of Jamaica rendered vacant by the death of Sir Henry James Burford Hancock. The first intimation that Sir Fielding Clarke received was on Wednesday, when a telegram reached him asking if he would accept the post. and yesterday he announced his willingness to take the appointment. We are sure that every one will congratulate Sir Fielding Clarke upon his promotion, but at the same time there will be a genuine feeling of regret that we are about to lose so able, conscientious, and highly popular a Judge. The new appointment carries with it a much increased salary, as while Sir Fielding Clarke receives only $12,000 here, in Jamaica he will receive £2,000, in addition to being allowed expenses when going ou circuit. It is expected that he will leave the colony very shortly, and it is certain that his Lordship will carry with him the good wishes of the whole community. Sir Fielding Clarke was called to the Bar, Middle Temple. Easter Term, in 1876, and was attached to the north- eastern circuit. In 1881 he was appointed Attorney-General of Fiji, and in 1882 be became Chief Justice in the Western Pacific. He came to Hongkong in 1888 when he was appointed Puisne Judge, aud
on the tirement of the late Sir James Russell be succeeded him 85 Chief Justice. It will be remembered that during his absence from.. the colony on leave his position was most ably filled by the Attorney-General (Hon. W. Meigh Goodman), and it is almost certain that the Attorney-General will again act as Chief Justice. Of course it is impossible to say yet who, will receive the permanent appointment, but in legal circles the Attorney. General looked upon as the most likely
successor.
i
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on Thursday afternoon in the Council Chamber. Presant:-
His EXCELLENCY the Governor, Sir WIL- LIAM ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.
Hon. J. H. STEWART-LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.
Hon. W. M. GOODMAN, Attorney-General. Hon. A. M. THOMSON, Acting Colonial
Treasurer.
Hon. F. A. COOPER, Director of Public
Works.
Hon. R. MURRAY RUMSEY. Harbour Master, Hon. COMMANDER W. C. H. HASTINGS, Acting Captain Superintendent of Police.
Hon. C. P. CHATER.
Hon. Ho KAI.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD. Hou. E. R. BELILIOS, .M.G. Hon. A. McCONACHIE.
Councils.
Mr. J. G. T. BUCKLE, Acting Clerk of
NEW MEMBER.
Hon. Commander W. C. H. Hastings took the oath and his seat vice Hou. F. H. May, absent on leave.
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirthed.
CORRESPONDENCE re MILITARY
CONTRIBUTION.
Hon. C. P. CHATER asked the following question.--Will the Government lay upon the talle 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 Marquis of Ripon's despatch on that sub. ject of the 27th June, 1895 ?
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-The question was received at three o'clock this afternoon, but your Excellency had already decided to have the correspondence to which it refers laid upon the table, and it is already in print. I now beg to lay it accordingly. In doing so I shruld like to remind the hon. member on my right (Hon. C. D. Chafer) that it would be more rouvaniet if due notice were given of a question because, although there may be uc- casions when irgency requires the waiving of the usual notice it is more convenient as a rule for the conduct of the public business if proper notice were given.
DRAIN FLUSHING.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-1 beg to give notice of my intention at the next meeting of the Council to ask the two following questions Will the Government be good enough to say why (experiments having shown the practic ability of such a course) steps are not taken to pump up sea-water to the higher levels in order to wash out the drains, which in the present dry weather ard becoming daily more offensive and obnoxioms →→
[December 11, 1895.
His EXCELLENCY-The question is out of order.
2
His Excellency directed the Clerk of the Councils to strike out the last few lines of the question so as to bring it into accordance with Parliamentary practice.
THE QUEEN'S STATUE. ¿
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-My other question Council of the reasons for the suspension for is-Will the Government kindly inform the
many months and the apparently indefinite pedestal for the Jubilee statue of Her Majesty postponement of all work upon the base and
in the way of erection of this statue, which has the Queen ? Is there any insuperable obstacle
instead of being placed in the position for which now for nearly a year been interred in a godown,
it was designed P
PAPERS
The COLONIAL SECRETARY said that, in addition to the Military Contribution cor- respondence, he had to lay on the table the Finance Committee's report.
THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT,
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-I have the honour to lay upon the table the report of the proceedings of the Public Works Committee held on the 25th November.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-May I suggest that that report would appear in a more busi- ness-like way if the cost of the buildings were stated against each item as was done-
His EXCELLENCY-I do not know what you are referring to.
Hon. 'T. H. WHITEHEAD-I am referring to the Public Works Committee's report and suggesting that it should contain the cost of each item therein as the reports which come from the Finance Committee to the Council do.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-The hon. member will find the cost stated in the printed copy of the estimates.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT RÉFORM Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD asked the following question, which varies slightly in it terms from the notice given:-Will the Government lay upon the table a copy of the correspondence which has passed between the Government (including the elaborate memorandum of the Hon. the Colonial Secretary which accompanied it) and the home officials, and between the latter and the Colonial Government, concerning the petition from the ratepayers of Hongkong to the Commons of England praying for reform in the constitution of the local Govern- ment, and for the rights and privileges com- mon to the British people in the smallest parish in England or Scotland of settling their local municipal affairs in their own way and to their own mind; as well as copies of all com- munications on the subject of the appointment of two unofficial members to the Executive Council, and two additional unofficial members to the Legislative Council?
The COLONIAL SECRETARY—As the matter to which the question refers is still under the consideration of the Secretary of State, nothing definite having been decided with regard to it, The COLONIAL SECRETARY—I do not think it would be premature to lay on the table any that question is in order; it is introducing portion of the correspondence which has taken
matter of debate. I have by me May's Par-place on the subject. liumentary Prbelice, and I would call the INTENDED PREMISES FOR THE PO LEUNG KUK. attention of the hon. member to page 355, where Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD asked the following it is stated that all questions should be question-With reference to the Colonial Secre limited, as far as possible, to matters im-tary's letter No. 1187 of 27th June, 1892, to the mediately connected with the business of Par Registrar-General, forwarding a precis of cor- liament or administration, and should not in- respondence re Home for Girls, the following volve opinion, argument. inference, imputations, paragraphs appear in the latter- irony, or hypothetical cases, nor are any facts 1 to be stated unless they be necessary to make the question intelligible and can be authen ticated." I am sure the hon. member will not deny that his question infringes this practice.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-I do not know really how to put the question in any other way.
His EXCELLENCY You must not express an opinion in your question.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-I did not, your Excel- leucy.
His EXCELLENCY-Yes, you said that the drains are: daily becoming more and more offensive.
Hou. E. R. BELILIOS This is not an opinion but a fact, I think; I did not think there was any doubt-
The COLONIAL SECRETARY--I rise to order; it is not a proper question.
Five Chinese houses were accordingly erected near St. Stephen's Church in ac cordance with plans which the Po Leung Kuk Committee had seen, and which, it was understood, they approved.
64
The cost of building these houses was $8,000, the land on which they stand was valued at about $12,000.
"There seems to have been some, mis- understanding with regard to the rents to be derived from the lower floors, the Po Leung Kuk Committee thinking that they were to go towards the maintenance of the Home, while the Government decided that they were to be paid into the Treasury:
"When the buildings had been completed the Po Leung Kuk objected to move into them because they considered them unsuit- able, etc.................”
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.