June 24, 1899.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
509
Phillips went to the Yamen for consultation | THE HON, E. R. BELILIOS AND THE TREAT-¦ to vote as directed. (" Hear, hear,” from the and advice. The Mandarin sheltered Mr. and Mrs. Phillips and Miss Seare and sealed the
house.
Next day (Saturday) all was quiet. An inven- tory was taken of the contents of Mr. Phillips' house. Mr. Phillips thought the party might es through Kiangsi and reach Shanghai by the Yangtze, but the Mandarin advised him to stay where he was.
On Saturday night Dr. Rigg started down the river (? from Kienning.)
On Monday Mr. Phillips and party started down the river. The Kienyang Magistrate acted well and rendered valuable assistance,
A fortnight ago placards were posted urging. the murder of all foreigners and native Christians and the destruction of the mission proporty. A new room which had been added to the house was alleged to conceal the entrance to a cave where the boilies of murdered girls were disposed of. The leading gentry were invited to inspect the room, and all the Kienyang civil and military officials made au inspection, were satisfied with what they saw, and published an emphatic denial of the absurd rumours that were
n circulation.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
On 20th June a meeting of the Hong kong Legisative Council was held in the Council Chamber at the Government Offices, there being present:-
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR, Sir HENRY BLAKE, G.C.M.G.
His EXCELLENCY Major-General GASCOIGNE C.M.. (Commanding the Troops).
Hon. H. E. POLLOCK (Acting Attorney General).
Hoa. R. MURRAY ROMSEY (Harbour Master). Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G. (Captain Super. intendent of Police).
Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer). Hon. R. D. ORMSBY (Director of Public Works),
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G.
Hon. J. J. KESWICK,
Hon. WEI A YUK.
Mr. . G. T. BUCKLE (Clerk of Councils).
PAPERS.
In the absence of the Colonial Secretary, the ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL laid various papers on the table. The papers included the report of the Standing Law Committee on the Criminal Procedure Bill (No. 2) and with regard to this he said that when they came to committee on the Bill he would move its adoption. QUESTION BY THE HON. T. H. WHITEHEAD. The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I beg to give notice that at the next meeting of the Council I will ask the following questions:- 1.-Will the Government lay upon the table a statement of the amount expended by the Public Works Department for repairs and alterations to " Beaconsfield" and of the re-payments made by the owner of the building in respect of the former; also state for the inform- ation of the Council under what authority this expenditure has been disbursed ?
"MENT OF PLAQUE PATIENTS. The Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-I beg to give no. propose to ask two or three questions to the tice that at the next meeting of the Council I effect whether or not there has been any change, any improvement, any progress made in the treatment of plague patients in our hospitals since the epidemic year of 1894. THE HON, B. R. BELILIOS AND THE CHINESE
CUSTOMS.
The Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-I beg to ask the questions standing in my name.
The questions were as follows :---
3.-Have the Colonial Government under- taken to collect duties; temporarily or for an indefinite period?
Hon. C. P. Uhater.) I regard this Ordinance as a retrograde movement of no ordinary magnitude.
the proposition to establish and impose harbour It is just as much a direct tax upon shipping as the recently proposed increase in light dues and dues which the Secretary of State for the Colonies in his wisdom has refused to sanction within the last few days. This measure, sir," is
destined to interfere with the freedom of the
port and to retard its progress and impair its prosperity, its progress and prosperity having mainly been secured and maintained by the freedom of the port. In a despatch some 45 years ago one of Your Excellency's pre- 1. The Secretary of State for the Colonies decessors wrote:" Believing that thesatis. having only sanctioned the collection of duties factory development of our prosperity is on Opium by this Government, do the Govern-mainly due to the emancipationof all ment propose to collect Customs duties on other shipping and trade from fiscal vexations commodities ?
and exactions, 1 trust no custom-house 2.-The Stations formerly belonging to the Immachinery will ever be introduced, either for perial Maritime Customs having been taken over the collection of tariff or harbour dues or for by the Police, will the Government say whether any purpose, which may check the free ingress or not the Castoms Officials are still in occupa- and egress of all shipping to and from the port, tion ?
nor the free transfer of commodities from hand to hand. Hongkong presents another example of the elasticity and potency of unrestricted commerce which has more than counterbalanced the barrenness of the soil, the absence of agricultural and manufacturing industry, the disadvantages of its climate, and every impediment which would clog its progress." The proposed legislation, sir, in my opinion is a violation of existing rights, and it appears to me that it is tantamount to a confiscation of valu- able property. I would further call the atten tion of the Government and the Council to the fact that this important Ordinance did not reach the hands of the unofficial members until Satur- day afternoon. I am not aware of any cause for any urgenoy in this matter, and I would direct the attention of the Government to what the parliamentary committee appointed in 1847, to enquire into Hongkong affairs, said- Clause 42, recommended, that "drafts of all new laws and regulations, unless of an urgent nature, should, as in India, be published for three or six months before they are finally enacted."
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The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-In the absence of the Colonial Secretary I have to give the answers, The answer to the first question is no. The answer to the second question is, the staff are still in occupation of some stations pending accommodation being provided for them. The answer to the third question is, for an indefinite period. THE PIERS ORDINANCE, 1899-threaTENED
OPPOSITION.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled the Piers Ordinance, 1899.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded.
The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Sir, I rise to move the rejection of the first reading of this Bill on the ground that it is a violation of existing rights. There are wharves and piers held under existing Ordinances which have still some five years to run. There are others held under special agreements between the Government and the wharf owners. Firms and others holding licences for wharves and piers under the old scale of fees are entitled to three months' notice before any chauge can be made in the terms and conditions of the licences al- ready granted. If the proposed Ordinance is passed and brought into force on 1st July, eleven days hence, as clause 20 of the Bill indi- cates, it would amount to a confiscation of valuable property wholly unauthorised by pre- cedent in imperial legislation.
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The Hon. C. P. CHATER-I beg to second that proposition.
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The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Perhaps your Excellency will allow me to say a few words in answer to the honourable member for the Chamber of Commerce. I do not know whether he is aware of the fact that I have already arranged to have a consultation with Mr. Francis, Q.C., upon the subject of this Bill. The point was raised originally by the senior unofficial member upon the construc-
to
His EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR-The|tion of Ordinances 18 and 19 of 1884 but Hon, the Acting Attorney General has pointed out that it is not usual for any honourable member, though it is in his power to do so, to object to the introduction of a Bill. I do not know whether there is an instance here where the first reading of a Bill has been objected to, because it is merely laying the Bill on the table; and then all the objections can be brought forward at the second reading The first reading of a Bill is merely the intro-" duction of a measure to the Council. But as I say, I am not aware of any reason why an hon- uorable member should not take an unusual course and object to the firstreading.
of course I do not know whether the senior unofficial member intended Mr. Francis discuss with me also the other question men- tioned by the honourable member for the Chamber of Commerce. At all events I know Mr. Francis is going to disuss with me the question how this Ordinance will affect the rights of pier owners under Ordinances 18 and 19 of 1884, and I think it is very probable be will discuss with me further questions mentioned by the honourable member for the Chamber of Commerce. That conference will take place on Thursday next, that is to say, before the se cond reading of this Bill will come on.. I do not The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-My remarks, see, sir, any reason for delaying the first reade sir, are very brief. I will continue by saying ing of this Bill, because, as your Excellency has that the rents and fees proposed to be charged pointed out, the first reading of a Bill under this Ordinance are exorbitant. They is purely a formal matter. The important ques are six times more than the highest Crown rent tion is the second reading of the Bill and how charged upon the most valuable marine lots in this Bill ought to be dealt with in com the colony. The licencees of wharves and piers mittee. I need not say that I shall very care- do not derive any profit from those wharves fully listen to any argument which may be and piers; they are there for the public proposed to me by Mr. Francis upon the sub- convenience and the publio benefit-to facili-ject of this Bill, and as to how far it interferes tate shipping and to promote the trade of with existing rights, and as to how far it is. the port. They are also essential for the proper in itself. If I think in any way that proper landing of the food supply of the this Bill does andnly interfere with existing 4-Will the Government lay upon the table colony. There is nothing in this Ordinance rights, I shall have no hesitation whatever in a copy of the correspondence which has passed which would prevent a new Governor 12 months laying that view before Your Excellency. It' between the British Government and the Im. hence coming to this Council and raising the will be my duty to do so. With these few re perial Government of China and the Colonial | rent of piers and wharves ten-fold or marks, I suggest that the Bill ought to got Government on the subject of the arrangements
through the first reading. As I said, the first! to be made in accordance with the Convention
reading is purely a formal matter. of 20th June, 1898, for the better protection of the Chinese revenue from loss by the smuggling of opium from Hongkong into China?
2.-Will the Government lay upon the table a statement of the total expenditure payable out of the Colonial Treasury in connection with the preparations for and the occupation of the colony's new territory leased by China to Great Britain per the Convention of 30th June, 1898 ? 3.-What steps have the Government taken to bring the Police Force up to its full strength as anthorised by Ordinance, and are the Gov- erument prepared to introduce an Ordinance sanctioning the increase of the force to a strength sufficient for the adequate policing of the colony's new territory ?
from taking away the exemption from taxes and the increased tenure which this Ordinance professes to give them, as the Gov- ernment have continuously in the Council a majority of official members who are required
The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-If I may be? allowed to say one word, I think the course which the honourable Attorney-General has
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