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is composed of inhabitants such as We see around us here to-day Hongkong will con- tinue to develop with strides which will sur- prise us all. In addition to proposing success to Hongkong I have also been asked to propose the health of our worthy Chairman. (Loud cheers.) I can see from your applause, gentle- It men, that good wine needs no bush." requires very few words from me to com- plate this very pleasant duty which has been assigned to me. I have as I have already said-heen asked to propose. Success to this colony." That success is very closely connected with the good health of our Chairman. (Cheers). There are very few in- stitutious on this island botter known than Mr. Thomas Jackson. (Cheers). He is an exceedingly modest man-("Ob, ch" and laughter)-and I do not propose on this occasion to colarge upon his many good qualities, but I am certain I am expressing the opinion of you all when I express the hope that he will be allowed to re- main with us not only for the three years which bave been mentioned in other quarters but for many years--(cheers)-and that when the black day in the annals of this colony does come when he decides to transfer his useful energies to the West, he will leave behind him some oneworthy to tread in his shoes. I ask you to drink suc. cess to this colony, coupled with the name of “T. J." (Laughter and cheers).
The company sang For he's a jolly good fel- low," and there were cries of Good old Tom."
The CHAIRMAN, who was received with great enthusiasm, said-Your Excellencies and gentle- men, there is que fact that is abundantly patent to all of us to-day, and that is this, that there is very little of the gall of hitterness about and that there is a great deal of the milk of human kindness. (Cheers). It has been well said that kindliness is the gold of life, and I am only too pleased that Sir Claude MacDonald has been present here to-day to see that after all this little brauch of the China Association is not only at one with the colony and the community, but that there is great kindliness amongst its members. such as we have seen here to-day (Applause). In thinking of the China Association, I always feel that our numbers are few. Well, after all it takes only a very few ounces of gold to outweigh a great deal of lead; and if we have persuaded Sir Claude MacDonald on his passing through Hongkong that the China Association contains in a few of the grains of gold that are this colony. I think wo have attained our object. (Cheors). The colony itself is a very important little colony. 1 reinewber in the old days when Cyprns was acquired there was a great fuss about it. It was on the confines of Asia Minor. Well, your Excellency, this little island
is not on the confines of Asia Minor but on the
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
confines of Asia Major-the great Empire of China. I think we ought to b a little bit of a beacon here to show a light to all the country around. I hope the present re- sidents and the future residouts of Hongkong will try to be that and by example and precept will show the great Empire of China what British civilisation brings, and what it ought to bring. I do not think I can do better than to ask you
stuül }} and sing Auld
to
Lang Syne."
The company rose and sang Auld Lang Syne" with great gusto, and so concluded oue of the happiest and also one of the most im- portant purely British gatherings ever held in the colony.
ARREST OF FOREIGN C- MPRA- DORES IN FORMUSA..
[SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE "DAILY PRESS."]
Takow, 31st March, 3.10 p.m. Wholesale arrests of foreign compradores in the camphor districts are being made. Hougs are being closed, the contents confiscated, and the books seized by the Japanese authorities. Great excitement prevails.
MEDICAL INSPECTION IN JAPAN,
The following telegram was received by H.E. the Governor from Her Majesty's Minister to Japan yesterday:
Governor, Hongkong. Medical inspection enforced from to-day against all arrivals from Chinese ports.-SATOW, 6th April, 1896."
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
F
[April 9, 1896.
designs for the proposed new Government offices, including the Post Office, the Supreme. Court, &c., as directed some time ago by His
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Excellency the Governor ? April in the Council Chamber.
Council was held on the afternoon of the 2nd
Present:→
His EXCELLENCY the Governor, Sir WIL- LIAM ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.
Hon. II. E. POLLOCK, Acting Attornoy
General.
Hon. A. M. THOMPSON, Acting Colonial
Treasurer.
Hon. F. A. COOPER. Director of Public Works.
COST OF THE ADMINISTRATION. Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Will the Govern- ment lay upon the table a statement showing the total cost of the administration or the ex- penditure of the Government under the head of salaries, including allowances, pensions, exchange compensation. &c., for the year 1895 ?
The COLONIAL SECRETARY--In answer to that question I beg to lay upon the table the
statement asked for.
THE SANITARY BOARD PAPERS. Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Will the Govern- Hon. R. MURRAY RUMSEY, Harbour Master.ment lay upon the table a copy of the papers or Hon. COMMANDER W. C. II. HASTINGS, Acting Captain Superintendent of Police."
Hon. C. P. CHATER. Hou. Ho KAL.
Hou. T. H. WHITEHEAD. Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G. Hon. J. J. BELL-IRVING.
MINUTES.
Mr. F. J. BADELEY, Acting Clerk of Councils.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
FINANCIAL MINUTE.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I have the honour to lay upon the table Financial Minute No. 2 and to move that it be referred to the Finance Committeo, a meeting of which will be held immediately after the Council.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER SEConded, Carried.
SANITARY BY-LAW.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the adop. tion of the amended by-law No. 21 of the by- laws made under section B of Ordinance 15 of 1891, referring to the burial or cremation by the Sanitary Board of dead bodies of persons who had suffered from diseasos specified in the Ordinance.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL seconded. Carried.
PAPERS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid upon the table the following papers-Statement of dis- bursements for forestry works in the years 1897 and 1898, statement of water account to 31st December, 1895, and financial returns for the year 1895.
AFFORESTATION DEPARTMENT.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY- With reference to the statement of disbursements for forestry works in the years 1897 and 1898 I have the honour, in accordance with the usual practice, to move That the Council having considered the statement by the Superintendent of the Botanical and Afforestation Department resolves that it is expedient to incur the liability pro posed to be-incurred în 1898,"
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER Seconded. Carried.
CATTLE DISEASE,
|
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD gare notice of the following question:-Ias the attention of the Government been directed to the account in the Daily Press of lith ult. of the insanitary state of things during the recent fatal disease amongst the eattle at Pokfulam, and will the Government obtain from the Sanitary Board and the Govern- ment departments concerned and lay upon the table a complete and detailed statement of the actual position of matters from day to day, as well as a copy of the correspondence between the Government and the Dairy Farm Co., Limited, together with the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon's reports for 1888 and 1889, also the report by the Hon. the Surveyor-General, the Hon. | Ỡ, Chadwick, and Mr. Ladds referred to in his (Mr. Ladds) report dated 12th January, 1891.
VETERINARY SURGEON.
|
Hon. T.. H. WHITEHEAD gave notice of the following question -Will the Government in- form the Council what steps have been taken or are proposed to be taken to secure the immediate services of a Veterinary Surgeon, and is it the in- teution of the Government to provide in future against the contingency of the Veterinary Surgeon going on leave ?
NEW PUBLIC OFFICES.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD gave notice of the following question:-Will the Government in- form the Council the cause of delay in taking steps to obtain by public competition plans and
correspondence between the Colonial Govern- ment and the Home Anthorities and all other documents, including the reports or written opinions of the unofficial members, in connection with and on the subject of the Sanitary Board and its reconstruction ?
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-The answer to In reply the former part of the question is no. to the latter part I beg to lay upon the table the correspondence which has already been published in the Press and a copy of which the hon. mem- ber has already been furnished with.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Then, sir, I will now give notice that I will move a resolution at the next meeting of the Council for the pro- duction of all the papers, including those mentioned in a letter I addressed to the hou. Colonial Secretary yesterday. I will send in due course the words of the resolution I intend to move.
#xg.
NATURALIŻATIÓN ORDINANCE.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to move the first reading of a Bill entitled "An Ordinance for the naturalization of Lee Show." I mention that Loe Shew is 41 years of
may
He was educated at San Francisco in the United States, and he is the managing partner in the Kwong Mi Yuen firm at 46, Winglok Street and a partner in the Yee Sang Lung firm ut 77, Winglok Street, and he also possesses certain leasehold property in this colony. Mr. Lee Shew has resided in the colony for the past seven years and he has declared his intention of permanently residing here.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I bag to second. Bill read the first time. THE TOSSESSION OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION.
Ilis EXCELLENCY-Gentlemen, the second item on the agenda paper is the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend and consolidate the law relating to the carriage and possession of arms and ammunition. I propose to withdraw that Ordinance from the list. It is a very delicate and a very difficult question and requires to be very carefully dealt with. You have seen from the newspapers that there has been an abnormal exportation of arms from the colony to Macao and probably to Canton, and I shall be very much obliged to the un- official members if they will kindly act on a Committee to report to me on the subject. I propose that the Attorney-General, the Har. bour Master, and Commander Hastings re present the officials, and I shall be obliged if Mr. Chater, Dr. Ho Kai, and Mr. Whitehead will agree to
on the unofficial side to furnish a report and see what it is proper to do and to supervise the exportation of arms ammunition.
serve
The unofficial members named signified their willingness to serve on the Committee, and His Excellency thanked them.
SEARCH WARRANTS ORDINANCE.
The ACTING Attorney-GENERAL-I beg to move the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to provide for the issue of search warrants in the case of suspected coinage offences.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY—I beg to second, Bill read the first time,
BUILDINGS AMendment ordINANCE. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERALI beg to move the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Buildings Ordinance, 1889." As I am desirous, if hon, members have no objection, to move the suspension of the stand. ing orders in order that this Bill may go through the Council at this meeting, I will go into the matter in some detail. I think that the import- ant points are mentioned in the statement of
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