HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on the 3rd December in the Conncil Chamber. Present:-
His EXCELLENCY the Governor, Sir WIL- LIAM ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS can be dignified by such term, are more the Tung Wa, however, recommended that anxious to hide the dirt than to remove it. a Chinese steward should be appointed, and If they prepare
a pageant, the gold and the it is presumably that recommendation that tinsel invariably mask the filth beneath. In is to be given effect to. It is to be hoped the most gorgeous procession resplendent the proposed changes and additions in the embroideries conceal sordid rags and un-constitution to the Hospital will be readily washed limbs. But if the Chinese can be accepted by the Chinese, for they will effect taught that limewashing prevents disease a great improvement in the institution and germs from hanging about the walls, materially increase its usefulness. that frequent applications of soap and water to the floors and windows has a similar effect, they may arrive at the conclusion that soap
and water applied to their skins may prove equally bene- ficial. Their under garments might then come in for more attention instead of often being allowed to wear out on their backs. At present the Chinese have little use for
Their ablutions are performed soap. in a scanty supply of water, the same tub and towel doing duty for a houseful of
peo- ple. The missionaries are trying hard in their schools to train the girls into the use of soap, and a proportion of the servants employed by foreigners learn to appreciate the utility of this article, though few take to its regular use. It is to be hoped that ex- tended contact with Western races will do something to cure the Chinese of their dis- taste for soap and water, but for some de- cades to come, probably, the authorities in this colony will have to wage a strenuous fight with the habits ingrained into the Chi- nese by immemorial custom. Nevertheless there is hope for improvement, and the plague visitation has taught the Chinese their first practical lesson as to the need for cleanliness in their dwellings.
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His EXCELLENCY Major-General Black, C.B., Officer Commanding the Troops.
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.
Hon. H. E. POLLOCK, Acting Attorney-
General..
Hon. A. M. THOMPSON, Acting Colonial Treasurer.
Hon. F. A. CooPEE, Director of Public Works.
Hon. R. MURRAY RUMSEY, Harbour Master. Hon. F. H. MAY, Captain Superintendent of Police.
Hon. C. P. CHATER. Hon. Ho KAI.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD. Hon. E. R. BELILIOS; C.M.G. Hon. WEI A YUK. Mr. F. J. BADELEY, Acting Clerk of Councils.
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
SWEARING IN OF MEMBERS.
His EXCELLENCY-Gentlemen, it is necessary to swear in His Excellency Major-General Wilsone Black, C.B., Mr. F. H. May, Mr. Wei A Yuk, and also Mr. T H. Whitehead on his re-election as member for the Chamber of Com- merce.
The hon. members mentioned were then sworn in.
PAPERS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid upon the table the following papers-The report of the Director of the Observatory for 1895, the report of the Po Leung Kuk Society for the year 1895, the report on the progress of public works during the first half of the year 1896, the report on the progress of the Tai- pingshan Improvement works, the Government Offices Improvement Committee's report, and the report of the Commission on the Tung Wah Hospital.
of
has been
Coun
his unofficial colleag the earliert
individual member
public and
nection wi had referred thi
[December 9, 1896
unofficial members in the usu
course, so far as the members is concerned; the Government and to do. Whether that unwise policy it is not for me to since your Excellency communication to the hon, seni ber, at his request we gathered
Of cours discussed the question. was not conducted as openly as meetin Council, and so far as I a have always advocated the 1 public participating in the bera' deliberations in any
am concer
nofficia
And
ted at
time, and I think it would be b there is no objection on the part vernment, that in future unofficia should be attended by the me at all events, so that our transactions there not be misunderstood and misrep choice of anyone. Now the are that about a fortnight ago your. Exce sent a communication to the senior unofficial member and he at once convened a meeting circulating a communication to us, but unfor tunately I was not aware the communication was marked "Confidential." I did not know whether it was marked by the Government or not, but the mark was on the envelope, and that was explained to us as soon as I got to the first meeting. When I was asked by a member specially whether I should regard the mark "confidential" as binding upon me I said that I would not be bound by any marking on the envelope, since the business affected the interests of those I represent and not my interests. I further stated that I would not only decline to regard that as confidential, but any other communication of a like nature. It referred to me not in my private capacity but as a repre- sentative of the Chinese, and I therefore would not regard it as binding on myself in any way In that case, as in many other cases when I have received communications of that I have discussed these questions with constituents. Such were the facts as my position is concerned. Certainly th secret conclave does not apply to me. you I never regarded such a meeting secret conclave. We expressed our to each other as freely as we could an every meeting it is invariably my pract to tell the leading Chinese about i think my unofficial colleague, Mr. Wei A Yuk, will confirm me when IBBY that previously no important has been brought before the members that I would not disclose and
I have not the l nou give away. With regard to the sec the public which
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THE TUNG WA HOSPITAL. The remarks made by the Governor to the Directors of the Tung Wa Hospital the other day will commend themselves to the community by their practical good sense. As a charitable institution the Hospital has done excellent work, but it is undoubtedly capable of improve- ment, and the measures decided upon by the Governor are calculated to effect improvement without materially altering the general character of the institution or estranging the Chinese. To attempt to con- duct the Hospital entirely on English lines would be a mistake, for in that case the Chinese would be as unwilling to go there as they are to go to the Civil Hospital, the great majority of them having a great dread of Western medical treatment. Their absurd prejudices in that respect are not to be broken down by compulsion, and we are therefore glad to observe that while the liberty of laying this paper on the table represent, I leave it to their own represent
GAP ROCK LIGHT DUES. THE PRIVATE MertinG OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS.
His EXCELLENCY-Gentlemen, I have the honour to lay upon the table certain cor- respondence respecting the abolition of the special Gap Rock Light dues. I have taken
888
myself because I wish to say that late last to give their own explanation to night, about a quarter to six, while engaged question has been discussed at two in official work, I received a vigorous protest and the result communicated to your which was written in his usual uncom- lency. As soon as the result was promising style by the hon. member who has cated I think the hon. member for the just been sworn in as representative of the Chamber of Commerce asked leave to publi ber of Commerce. I wish to say that the charge communication. he has brought against me of entering into pri- Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I rise to order. vate correspondence on the subject is utterly I did not ask if you would agree to my pa untrue. The hon. member is aware of the saying the communication. I had a perfect right ing, give a misstatement twenty-four hours' to publish it.
Hon. Ho KAI-You said you would publish start and you cannot overtake it. The corre spondence was perfectly public, so public that walls of all the houses in Hongkong as it might have been plastered on all the far as I am concerned. I leave the unofficial members who are charged with holding a secret conclave and being engaged in "secret.confabula tions" to protect themselves from the charge. I feel sure that some of them have consulted their constituents, Dr. Ho Kai, I think, being one of and there was no intention whatever on the part them. The correspondence was perfectly public of the Government to keep it secret.
skilled treatment is to be provided at the Tung Wa for those willing to accept it those who prefer to be treated by native doctors are to be at liberty to follow their own inclination. A Chinese trained in Western medical science is to be appointed to reside at the Hospital whose services will be avail- able for those who desire to be treated by him, and he will also act as interpreter to the Visiting Surgeon and Visiting Justices. As Visiting Surgeon it is hoped that the services may be secured of a gentleman whose whole time will be available for the work, the Colonial Surgeon's other duties preventing him giving the time and attention required. To ensure the sanitary maintenance of the institution and the cleanliness of the patients a steward is to be appointed. His Excel- lency's remarks might possibly convey the impression that this officer was to be a Euro- pean, and it is easy to conceive the friction that would exist between the Chinese Direc-
Hon: Ho KAI-Although it is unusual, I tors and the steward were that the case. wish, since you have given me permission, to The Commission that recently reported on I say a few words on this occasion. As a certain
it and we all said " Yes, certainl
Hon, T. H. WHITEHEAD –
not say so?
Belilion did
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS Oh, certain Hon. Ho KAI-I underst
monsly agreed that there was no that we had a perfect ri other serious charge has bee us and I take this ally, and strongly pr Excellency's permission,
member, wheth such an aspersi men who are
than himse
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