48
members have sent à memorandum to the retary of State for the Colonies ask- ing that the military contribution should be as it has been for the past ten years, namely, £40,000, instead of what it is proposed to be in the Ordinance now before us. In spite of the remarks made by the hon. the Attorney- General, with which I for one quite agree, I think, sir, in justice to the unofficial members an answer to our memorandum ought to be re- ceived and we ought to have time to discuss the answer before we agree to the first reading of the Bill. Therefore, sir, I beg to second the amendment of the hon. member for the Chamber of Commerce.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-On behalf of the Government I regret very much that delay is impossible. I do not think that any hon. member of this Council will for a moment deny that this Government has given the question every consideration, and has afforded every opportunity possible to every member of the Conncil to have this question put before the Secretary of State. Therefore, to come forward now that this-Government has given all these opportunities and to try and burk this Bill, as hon. members are trying to do, does not, I think, reflect credit on those Imperial instincts which the hon. member on my right informs me they possess. The representative of the Cham- ber of Commerce smiles. I congratulate him upon his smile, but I would like to know whe- ther he has consulted the leading members of the community on this question.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
rates were excepted, while in the case of Hong- kong our municipal rates have been included. Now we are fighting a difficult question and s principle, and fighting for a principle does not in the least, I submit, make us half hearted to what tends to the protection of the glorious Empire to which we all belong.. (Applause,).
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I have consulted the leading members of the community, and a very large number of them. They quite agree with what the unofficial members have done and have stated, viz., that we should be placed on the same basis as Singapore.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I am glad to hear that the hon. member has consulted the leading members of the community. All I can say is that those views are not the same as I have heard expressed; they are entirely oppo- site.
Hon. T: H. WHITEHEAD-Will you kindly give names?
The COLONIal SecretaRY—I do not think it is necessary for me to give names; I am stat- ing what are facts. It is a feature of this dis- cussion that the two members representing the Chinese have made no opposition and have not joined their unofficial colleagues in opposing this Bill.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Hon. Ho Kai signed the document on the subject.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-That is a fact which is perfectly well known to Hon. Ho Kai and this Council. I can see no reason for the delay, and if the hon. member had listened as carefully to your Excellency's address as be said he did he would have heard that your Excellency could hold out ne hope that their memorandum would be entertained, and I have no doubt that your Excellency has very good grounds for that statement.
F
Hon. C. P. CHATER-With your Excel- lency's permission I should just like to make one remark and that is on the subject of a word used by the hon. Colonial Secretary, namely, to "burk" this Bill. My object is not to burk this Bill. He says that we have had every opportunity for discussing the Bill for some time past. So we have, and the purport of our discussion is the memorandum forwarded to the Secretary of State. All I ask is that the consideration of this Bill, or rather the first reading of this Bill, should not take place until we have had an answer from the Secretary of State. I have no object in barking the Bill.
Hon. Ho KAI-I was about to rise to support the amendment when the Colonial Secretary rose; otherwise there would have been no statement about my silence. My sup- porting the amendment does not show that I am unwilling to contribute towards an increased contribution to the Imperial Government. On the other hand, we want more security for the defence of our position abroad and at home and shall have to pay for it. The only thing I obje to in this case is the unfair position hich we have been placed. That is to we are placed in position distinctly erent from that
Seventeen half per cent has been charged on both colonies, but on the one hand the municipa
The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE The objection to this Bill is that so far no good reasons have been shown why we should not be placed on the same footing as Singapore. May I point out to the unofficial members that very good reasons have been shown by the Secretary of State in the correspondence that took place in 1895 why this colony should be placed on a different footing from Singapore in this matter. The simple reason is that the revenue of Singapore is about three times the revenue of this colony and although the municipal revenue is eliminated still they eliminated get a large contribution. If you what is called municipal revenue here but there happens to be no such thing-you get a less contribution. I understand the unofficial mem- bers are quite ready to pay and I am not in the least surprised to hear that they are as patriotic as any of us here. The hon. member represent- ing the Chamber of Commerce has even said that if you eliminate the municipal revenue he does not at all' object to an increase of the percentage. It seems to me it is six of one and half a dozen of the other. The question is, how much are we going to pay, and I do not think it matters much whether you include municipal revenue or exclude it and make it twenty odd per cent.
The amendment was then put, with the follow- ing result:
AYES.
Hon. E. R. Belilios Hon. Ho Kai Hon, C. P. Chater Hon. T-H. Whitehead
NOES. Hon. Wei A Yuk Hon. F. H. May The Harbour Master The Director of Publio
Works
The Acting Colonial
Treasurer
The Acting Attorney-
General
The Colonial Secretary H.E. Major-General
Black The amendment was therefore lost. and the motion for the first reading of the Bill was then put and carried.
FIRST READING OF BILLS.
The following Bills were read a first time : A Bill entitled An Ordinance to apply a sum not exceeding Two Millions Three hundred and Fifty-nine thousand Seven hundred and Eighty- nine dollars to the Public Service of the Year 1897.
A Bill entitled An Ordinance to declare and amend the Law of Partnership.
A Bill entitled An Ordinance to further amend "The Post Office Ordinance, 1887.'
A Bill entitled An Ordinance to provide for compensation being paid to Pawnbrokers in certain cases.
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A Bill entitled An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to Probates and Letters of Administration in this Colony.
THE ARRANGEMENT OF SEATS.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-May I be allowed to draw your Expelleboy's attention for one mo- ment to the re-arrangement of the seats at this table and to suggest that the Government follow a similar course to that pursued in Singa- pore and elsewhere in the East, and that is that the hon. official members take the head of the table and the unofficial members the foot of the table as is done in nearly all the Crown colonies. I think it is very desirable and would facilitate public business.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY—The suggestion of the hon. member will be taken into consi- deration. I do not know what has prompted. it. The combination of the unofficials and officials has worked harmoniously, and so far as I am aware it has not hampered, hindered, or interfered in any way with the conduct of public business.
H.E. Major-General BLACK-In Jamaica we sat nearly as we are at present and I believe business was facilitated thereby, because you can get good information. I wish I was sitting next to my hon. friend Mr. Chater, as I would then get plenty of information, (Laughter.)
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[December 9, 18
ENT
His EXCELLENCY adjourned the Council until next Monday.
(Colonial
FINANCE COMMITTEE. A meeting of the held immediately after the Hon. J. H Stewart I tary) presided and all the men
The following votes were No. 11. A sum of diture for the sewerage of the City
No. 12. A sum of $10,000 to meet bable further expenditure in connection the water and drainage works
year.
the
No. 13.-A sum of $4,000 to meet the diture for the erection of a Matron's House the Gaol and other alterations necessa convert a portion of the buildings into a female prison.
No. 15. A sum of $8,000 in aid of the vote
for "Miscellaneous Works” (Public Works Annually Recurrent).
No. 11. The sum of $20,000 for the con struction of a new floating fire engine.
No. 16. A sum of $808.50 for the purchase of blank charges and friction tubes for use at the Fog Signal Station, Gap Rock.
་་
No. 17.-Asum of ($500), in aid of the vote for Repairs to Epidemio Hulk Hygeia” (Harbour Department).
(Note-Increased cost due to re-mooring the hulk after the recent typhoon:)
No. 18.-A sum of $25,000 to meet {the following expenses during the current year Repairs to buildings $18,000; repairs to roR City of Victoria $5,000, out of Victoria $1.000, Kowloon 1,000.
No. 19.-A sum of $2,000 in aid of the vote for "Incidental Expenses" in the Police De- partment,
No. 20.-A sum of $650, in aid of the vote "Incidental Expenses," Sanitary Department, for the current year.
(Note-Increased cost due to the enforcement of By-law No. 6 under the provisions of Ordine ance No. 15 of 1894.). ́ ́
No. 21. A sum of $300 in aid of the votes | ́(a) Forage for horses, $160; and (b) Meals for prisoners in cells, $140; for November and December, 1896.
No. 22.-A sum of $336 for the salaries of the Chinese staff at the new Kowloon Animal Depot.
No. 23.-A sum of $5,000 for raising the Praya Wall at Shektongtani opposite. Marine Lots Nos. 126 and 177 to 183.
No. 24.-A sum of $70,000 for expenses incurred in connection with the plague.
No. 25.-A sum of $3,605.10 to meet the following expenses :----
Health Officer's Office-Coal, &o. $120. Government Civil Hospital. Provisions $1,830, Surgical Instruments $285, Medical Comforts $120 $300, Light and Fuel $800, Washir Incidental Expenses $150, Wate
E
Accom $30
cover
No. 26.Aum of 84,600 amount under-estimated in respect cellaneout Services Other.
ADJOURNM
The Committee then adjourned.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on the 7th December in the Council Chamber. Present
His EXCELLENCY the Governor, Sir WIL LIAM ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.**
His EXCELLENCY Major-General BLACK C.B., Officer Commanding the Troop
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART Colonial Secretary
Hon. H. E. POLLOCK, Acting Attorney- Generali
Hon. A. M. THOMBON, Acting Colonial Treasurer.
Hon. F. A. COOPER Director of Public Works
Hon, R. MURRAY RUMSRY, Harbour Master Hon. FH MAY, Captain Superintendent Police
Hon, C. P. CHATEE. Hon. Ho K Hon. Hon EP Hon, WEI
H
SHRAD
OMG!
Mr. T. J. BADELEY Acting Clerk of Councils,
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Private notes are available after approval.