October 27, 1897.]
sarily be postponed in favour of purely Imperial interests, this question had by no means been lost sight of.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
and I trust that I have not failed in the fulfil meat of my desire to encourage that spirit and to promote that enterprise. (Applause.)
I was justified in making that statement, and I thank you, gentlemen, for your co-operation it affords me much pleasure to have witnessed in the past, and I rely on a continuance of your before my departure the accomplishment of this loyal support and valuable assistance during the object. When communication has been satis-remainder of my term of office. It is a source of factorily established between Hongkong and the gratification to me that I have been connected West River ports, this colony will, doubtless, with this colony during a period of prosperity. share to the fullest extent in the barvest to be I need hardly say that I contemplate my ap reaped from those additional fields for commer-proaching departure with regret, and whilst cial enterprise.
feel assured that 1 shall take away with me an expression of your good-will, I trust that I may also have gained, in some degree, the confidence and respect of the entire community. (Ap- plause.)
My relations with the Chinese community of this colony have always been of the most cordial nature.. I bave had no reason to change my earliest-formed impression of their industrious, peaceful, and law-abiding qualities. On the other hand, I have had every reason to adhere to my original promise that they would find in me not only a Governor but also a friend. And if on one or two occasions I have had to disguise my good intentions under the cloak of official an- thority, I have on such occasions endeavoured to combine firmness with consideration for their feelings and national customs. (Applause). My object has always been to promote their wel- fare and secure their best interests.
In proof of the sincerity of these professions, if any such proof is required, I would refer to the concessions granted during the plague epidemic of 1894 under circumstances which in- volved a very large degree of responsibility. I would also mention the support accorded by the Government to the Po Leung Kuk, which has enabled that charitable Society to erect a new home, which I opened in person, and to con- tinue its beneficial work under more favourable circumstances. Great improvements have also been effected in the administration and sanitary condition of the Tung Wa Hospital. the benefits of which are already evident and are daily b coming more appreciated by the native com- munity.
Hon. C. P. CHATER-Sir, I need hardly say that we have one and all listened with the greatest possible pleasure to the remarks you have been pleased to make in regard to the Estimates and the financial position of the colony, and after those remarks have been digested by my unofficial colleagues they will, if necessary, be commented upon as opportunity offers.
327
The following sums to meet certain expenses in the Police Department:-For Clothing and Accoutrements, $4,500; for Bedding, Mess Utensils, &c., 8750; for Incidental Expenses, $1,400; for Conveyance of Police Pensioners, &c., $1,000; for Secret Service, S400. Total, $8,050. $98,892 28. being the Government contribu- tion towards the Jubilee Fund.
ADJOURNMENT.
The Committee then adjourned.
„SUPREME COURT.
20th October.
CRIMINAL SESSIONS.
BEPORE SIR JOHN CARRINGTON (CHIEF JUSTICE).
THE DAIRY FARM CASE,
Li Kun, clerk in the Dairy Farm Company, Limited, was charged under four counts with em. bezzling the sum of $5 and 30 cents on the 23rd and 24th September, and omitting to enter His Excellency then named the Committees the same in the book kept for that purpose. for the ensuing year.
COMMITTEES.
FIRST READING OF BILLS.
The following Bills were rend a first time A Bill entitled An Ordinance to apply a sum of not exceeding two millions three hundred and forty-three thousand seven hundred and thirty dollars to the Public Service of the year
1898.
A Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Chinese Extradition Ordinance, 1889.
A Bill entitled An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the laws relating to the construction of Ordinances, to further shorten the langunge used in Ordinances, and for other like
A Bill entitled An OrdiLauce to further femend the Waterworks Ordinance, 1890.
I have already referred to the modification the Light and Pass Regulations which prove to have been an unnecessary restriction. Aul if any further illustration is needed of my regard for the interests of the Chinese, I woul! mention the additional representation on this Council recently accorded to them at my sug- gestion. (Applause.)
And here I desire to express my indebtedness to the Registrar General, whose knowledge of the Chinese characteristics and of the language, and whose advice in all matters relating to their interests has always been of the greatest assistance to me.
I cannot conclude my remarks without refer- ence to that unique occasion in the annals of our national history which has recently beeu celebrated thoughout the vast British Empire. I mean, of course, the completion of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's beneficent reign.
purposes.
A Bill entitled An Ordinance for the natur alization of U Hoi Chan alias U Chin Tsun.
A Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Closed Honses and Insanitary Dwellings Ordin- ance. 1894.
A Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the law relating to vagrants,
?HE KOWLOON TRAMWAYS ORDINANCE.
Hon. J.J BELL-IRVING-Sir, I have the hon- our to move the second reading of the bill entitled An Ordinance to authorise the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company, Limited, to lay and maintain Tramways on certain public roads at Kowloon, in the colony of Hongkong. and to confer upon the said Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company, Limited. certain other rights, powers, and privileges. I think, sir, it is not necessary for me to say more than that the objects of this Bill are to It is impossible to appreciate, adequately or facilitate the more rapid discharge of vessels relatively the enthusiastic expressions of loyalty, making use of the wharves at Kowloon and respect, and devotion
our beloved also to effect some economy in the working Queen-Empress which that commemoration expenses of the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf called forth from countless millions of British and Godown Company, Limited, the shares subjects throughout the world; but I ven- of which public company are largely held ture to state that in ro other corner of by European and Chinese residents in this British territory were those expressions more colony. I understand that the former Director spontaneous and sincere in their utterance, of Public Works offered no objection to rails or more practical proof of their sincerity being laid on the public roads adjoining the furnished, than in this remote colony of Hong-wharves, and you will observe, sir, on refere ce kong. (Applause.)
to the Bill, that in the event of the rails being in any way a nuisance the Government reserves to itself the right of having them removed.
Hon. C. P. CHATER seconded. Bill read a second time.
towards
Gentlemen, I am proud of the loyalty of this community; and it will always be a pleasing reminiscence of my life that I had the privilege of representing our august Sovereign in Hong- kong on that occasion. I trust, gentlemen, that you will continue to co-operate with the Imperial Government for the defence and maintenance of that immense Empire, of which this colony is a small but not unimportant part. In conclusion, I have to thank you for your very patient hearing. I have endeavoured to illustrate, in the course of my remarks, a marked progress during the last six years-financial, commercial, industrial, and social--a progress upon which the Secretary of State for tə Colonies in a recent despatch was pleased to comment in favourable terms, and which the result of a comparison between the Hongkong of 1891 and the Hongkong of to-day places beyond all doubt.
Council went into Committee on the Bill. Bill passed through Committee, read a third time, and passed.
ADJOURNMENT.
The Council then adjourned until next Monday.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
then held. Hon. J. ii. Stewart Lockhart A meeting of the Finance Committee was
(Colonial Secretary) presided and all the mem. bers were present.
VOTES RECOMMENDED.
The following votes were recommended with out discussion
$3,000 in aid of the vote Expenses for
I appreciate the enterprising spirit of the community which has contributed to that result, | Volunteers."
*
*.
Hon. W. M. Goodman (Attorney-General) instructed by Mr. H. L. Dennys (Crown Solici- tor), prosecuted and Mr. J. J. Francis, Q.C. (instructed by Mr. C. Ewens), defended.
The following jury was empanelled-Messrs. C. Plate, Chan Choy, J. 1. Andrew, L. P. Sequairs, F. Lieb. Shi Yu Man, and P. A. Cox. The jury found the prisoner not guilty and he was discharged.
21st October.
DEMANDING MONEY WITH MENACES. Sui Tsak Shan and his son, Sui Ping, were charged with causing a threatening letter to be received by the Hou. F. H. May, Captain Superintendent of Police, demanding money with menaces. They were also charged with feloniously uttering the letter on the 13th August.
Hon. W. M. Goodman (Attorney-General), instructed by Mr. H. L. Dennys (Crown Solici tor), prosecuted. The prisoners, who pleaded not guilty, were not defended.
"
The jurors were-Messrs. W. Taylor, A. S. Mahomed. A. M. Baptista, A. Rombach, E. E. Hill, J. H. Jessen, and A. J. V. Ribeiro.
The Attorney-General explained that on the 13th August Mr. May received a letter addressed The Captain Superintendent of Police." The letter was as follows-" This writing is to in- form the Head of the Green Coats (Generous Brother) I am very glad that your source of wealth has been greatly enlarged. Now your junior is in great need of money. You must not decline. Send $10,000 to your junior's place. Arrangements will then be made with you to secure your happiness. If you disappoint me
con-
will certainly raze your household to the ground. Generous Brother, your life will not be endangered. Please decide, Do not say no warning has been given." The letter cluded by asking Mr. May to pay the money to the carpenter, on board the Chelydra and it was chopped with the name of the elder prisoner. On the 28th September Detective Sergeant Scott went to 18, Chinese Street, where the prisoners lived, to search for forged bank notes. When he got there the elder man picked up a waistcoat, rolled it up, and was ap- parently about to throw it through the window when Set seized him and found in his hand a chop which was identical with the impression of the clop the letter. The man was arrested. When he was before the Magistrate the younger prisoner. was seen in court. He was taken to the Police Station, where he wrote a letter to his father The characters in this letter were like th in e letter which Mr. May received, and the i rosu suggested that the letter was written by the younger prisoner at the dictation in the house. of his father and chopped with the chop found
Evidence having been called His Lordship gummed
The jury, by a majority of five to two, found the prisoners guilty.
The elder prisoner was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for having a forged note in his possession-the charge on which he was
1
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.