February 18, 1899.]
the inhabitants of the Kowloon extension that sales of land made after the signing of the convention on the 9th June last must be at their own risk and would not as a matter of course be recognised by the Government of Great Britain.
THE LAWS RELATING TO MERCHANT SHIPPING, ETC. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I rise to move the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to consolidate and amend the laws relating to Merchant Shipping, the duties of the Harbour-Master, the control and manage- ment of the waters of the colony, and the regulation of vessels-navigating the same. In- asmuch as I propose to move presently that this Bill be referred to the Standing Law Commit- tee, I do not think I need now detain members with many observations upon the Bill itself, be- cause I am in hopes that while the Law Commit- tee is engaged in going through this Bill clanse by clause, every bonourable m mber of this Council, whether a member of the Law Com- mittee or otherwise, will carefully go through the provisions of this Bill for himself, and will consider the amendments in the law introduced by this Bill which are set out in the objects and reasous at the foot of the Bill. In addition to calling the attention of honourable members to these objects and reasons I would also draw the attention of bonourable members to the first few pages which are published at the head of this Bill, which will show honour able members in what respects the present Bill corresponds with the provisions of the Mer- chant Shipping Ordinance No. 26 of 1891, and in what respects the present Bill embodies the provisious of the Imperial Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. I trust, as I have said, that honour- able members of this Council will carefully consider the provisions of this Bill, and that if any point occurs to them or is suggested to them they will not hesitate to draw my attention, as chairman of the Law Committee, to that point. I understand that in accordance with your Excellency's direction given at the last meeting of the Council this Bill has been referred to the Chamber of Commence, and perhaps I may ask the honourable member for the Cham- ber of Commerce if he would be so good as to endeavour to obtain the opinion of his con- stituents upon this Bill at as early a date as possible. (The Hou. T. H. WHITEHEAD: Certainly.) I have no desire to rush this Bill through the Council in any way, but as the Hon. Mr. Goodman will be back in the colony about this time next month of. course I am auxions, if possible, to see this Bill carried through committee at all events. before his re- turu. I think it would be a great pity if we did not get the Bill through Committee before Mr. Goodman returned, as, if we did not succeed in doing so, it would cause a good deal of delay. With these remarks, sir, I beg to move the second reading of this Bill.
*
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. The Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-Would it not facilitate matters and save a lot of labour and time if we could take the views of the Chamber of Commerce before the Bill is considered by the Law Committee. It has been mentioned to me to-day that it would facilitate matters if the Chamber of Commence were provided with a list of the clauses it is proposed to change and the new ones it is proposed to substitute It would enable them to discern what changes are proposed.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-With your Excellency's permission I should like to say a few words with regard to what has just fallen from the bonourable member. It would be absolutely necessary that the Law Committee should consider this Bill and go through it clause by clause, especially in reference to the amendments in the law proposed by this Bill. I believe I can rely upon the honourable member who represents the Chamber of Commerce to obtain for us at an early date the opinion of the Chamber of Commerce upon this Bill. This being a Bill which with schedules occupies some 60 pages it must neces- sarily take the Law Committee a long time to consider it clause by clause. When we receive a report from the Chamber of Commerce of course it will be our duty to consider the suggestions made, but in view of the fact that Mr. Goodman is so soon returning to the colony
CHINA ÓVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
OF COMMENCE.
189
I should not like in any way to postpone the | HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER consideration of the Bill by the Law Committee. As-I stated before, any suggestions sent in by the Chamber of Commerce will be carefully considered by the Law Committee.
His EXCELLENCY-Do you propose to move it be referred to the Law Committee now ?
At the monthly meeting of the General Com- mittee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, the 7th IFebruary, 1899,-Present, Messrs. R. M. Gray (Chairman), A. Haupt. J. J. Bell Irving, T. Jackson, A. McConachie, H. A Ritchie, N. A Siebs, T. H. Whitehead, and R. C. Wilbox (Secretary).
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENEBAL-Yes. am in hopes that the honourable member for the Chamber of Commerce will succeed in the course of the next fortnight in obtaining the opinions of the Chamber of Commerce this Bill.
upon
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting (held 10th January) were read and confimed."
ABSENT MEMBER.
Read letter from Mr. W. Poate expressing regret at being unable to attend owing to his presence being required on a jury sitting that
ELECTION OF NEW MEMBER OF CHAMBÉR. Messrs. Vander Stegen & Co, had been elected to membership of the Chamber since last meet ing.
THE FUTURE FISCAL POLICY IN. THE
PHILIPPINES.
The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAL-If possible. His EXCELLENCY-It is, I think, very import- ant that the views of the commercial community should be obtained upon this Bill during its consideration by the Law Committee, and if it were possible to have these observations of the Chamber of Commerce before the Law Com-morning. mittee considered the Bill clause by clause I think it would be very advisable, and I might suggest, the Council having accepted the second reading of the Bill, the Law Committee might possibly see their way to deferring its considera- lion until they receive the suggestions of the Chamber of Commerce. Otherwise the Law Com. mittee having considered the Bill, we must assume very carefully, and come to certain decisions, would have to consider the observations of the commercial community on a point upon which they had already decided. I think it would be very advisable that they should have the views of the commercial community before they approached the consideration of each these various sections. I suggest that to the Law Committee, and I think bonourable members will see their way to accept the second reading and then the Attorney-General and the Law Committee can settle that matter.
of
The Bill passed the second reading. On the motion of the ATTOrney-GeneraL, seconded by the COLONIAL SECRETARY, the Bill was referred to the Standing Law Com- mittee.
CRIMINAL. PROCEDURE IN THE SUPREME
COURT.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to move the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to consolidate and amend the laws relating to Criminal Procedure in the Supreme Court. As I propose to move that this Bill be referred to the Standing Law Committee I do not think I need trouble members with any observations upon it. Honourable members will see that there is a full statement of the objects and reasons attached at the head of the Bill, and I may say, sir, that in drafting- this Bill the Chief Justice has afforded a very great deal of assistance, and we have had the benefit of his experience in drafting the Bill. I beg, sir, to move the second reading.
1
The COLONIAL SECRETARY Seconded, and the motion was carried.
The Secretary reported that the decision to address the Foreign Office on this subject had not been carried out so far, in consequence of an agreement subsequently to await receipt of a letter from the Manila Chamber, which body intended to lay the question before the British Goverument, duly supported by statis- ties.
The opinion was expressed that, in consequence of the outbreak of Lostilities at Manila, some time might have to elapse before further steps could be taken, but meantime it was resolved to write to the Singapore Chamber and state the circumstances which had led to the delay
THE REDUCTION OF THE PERIODS OF CROWN in replying to their letter.
LEASES.
Read letter from the Government, dated the 18th January, with reference to the Chamber's letter of the 10th October last on the above subject, announcing that the Secretary of State adheres to bis decision that Crown Leases shall in future be reduced from 999 years.to175 or at the most 99 years, but that terms will be en- bodied in future leases providing for the re- newal thereof on such an advance in Crown Rent as is justified by the then value` of the land for a further similar period.
mistake, but accepted as final so far as
This decision was viewed with regret
Chamber's protest is concerned.
8
THE BANK OF CHINA, JAPAN AND THE STRAITS (IN LIQ.) v. CERTAIN CHINESE
SHAREHOLDERS.
•
Read letter from H. E. Sir Claude 'Mao. donald, in reply to Chamber's. letter of the 31st December, bespeaking his assistance in obtain- On the motion of the ACTING ATTORNEY-ing a reversal of the recent decision of the TARY, the Bill was referred to the Standing GENERAL, seconded by the COLONIAL SECRE- Shanghai Taotai in the above case.” Law Committee,
The assurance given by the British Minister was regarded with satisfaction.
THE LAW RELATING TO PRISONĖ. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved and the COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded the third reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend and consolidate the law relating to prisons.
(correspondence.)
FISCAL FOLICY IN THE PHILIPPINES.
8th February, 1899. Dear Sir, I beg leave to acknowledge His EXCELLENCY-I do not think it is ad- last, inquiring whether, in view of the annera- receipt of your letter of the 18th December visable to pass the third reading of the Billtion of the Philippines by the United States of until it has been reprinted. Having gone America, this Chamber proposes making shy through the Bill carefully and made certain representations in favour of the fiscal policy for amendments I do not think it ought to those islands under the new régime being, as far pass the third reading until the Council have before them the Bill exactly as it is to stand.
as practicable, in the direction of Free Trade.
am instructed to express regret for the Otherwisem istakes may creep in. There delay in replying, and to explain that it has fore I would ask the Attorney-General to arisen owing to communications with a repre- withdraw the proposition as to the third read-sentative of the Manila Chamber of Commerce, ing, and in the meantime the Clerk had better have the Bill reprinted.
This suggestion was acted upon, the motion for the third reading being withdrawn.
ADJOURNMENT.
The Council adjourned until Monday, 27th.
Feb.
The maximum temperature last month was 72.6, on the 12th, and the minimum 43.6, on the 3rd, the mean for the month being 59. The rainfall amounted to 0.185 inch.
which body proposes to address the Foreign Office on the question, statistics of the trade, and forwarding copies of despatch to this Chain- ber and to Singapore with requests for support and co-operation.
It is to be feared, however, that the hostilities just commenced with the natives at Manila will cause some further delay in the proposed action of the Manila Chamber.
The Committee of this Chamber are quite in sympathy with your Chamber on the question, and are prepared to support the Manila Cham- ber in their efforts to place the matter strongly
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