66
CHINESE PREPARATIONS AT
WHAMPOA.
Mr. G. S. Hummel, the foreign instructor of the Imperial Chinese Torpedo Department and School at Whampoa, arrived here on the 20th inst., and in a brief interview accorded to our representative, said that the Chinese Taotai in charge of the Torpedo Department had advised him to leave, as in the absence of Li Hung-chang he could not guarantee his safety. He also informed the Instructor that 4,000 or 5,000 Imperial troops were marching down to garrison the forts. As there are only about 500 inhabitants in the village of Whampoa the troops are obviously for another purpose than maintaining order.
CANTONESE REFUGEES FROM THE NORTH
We understand that His Excellency the Governor has telegraphed to the Authori- ties at Tientsin to make arrangements for the passage to Hongkong of Cantonese who are desirous of returning to the South. His Excellency has guaranteed the cost of the passages to the extent of 85,000, which sum we believe has already been raised by sub- scription among leading Chinese Merchants of the Colony.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
On Monday afternoon, the 23rd inst., a meeting of the Hongkong Legislative 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.)
The Hon. F. H. MAY, U.M.G. (Acting Colonial Secretary).
Hon. W. MEIGH GOODMAN (Attorney-Geno- ral).
Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer). HOR. R. D. ORMSBY (Director of Public Works).
Hon. BASIL TAYLOR (Acting Harbour Mas- ter).
Hon. A. W. BREWIN.
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. Dr. HO KAL
Hon, R. M. GRAY,
Hon. JOHN THURBURN.
Hon. WEI A YUK.
[July 28, 1900.
and Messrs. C. H. Gale and A. H. Hollings- worth, Assistant Executive Engineers. The increase of the salary of the Chief Justice was not included in the general increase of salaries, and the Secretary of State had now authorised an increase in his salary of $1,500 a year. The increases to Mr. Lewis, Mr. Gale, and Mr. Hollingsworth were merely allowing them to commit their previous service towards their first increases.
The Hon. C. P. CHATER.-Will their cases come before the special committee in regard to the pay of junior officers ?
г
The CHAIRMAN-No; all these cases are
No. 280 of last year. dealt with in the Secretary of States despatch,
The vote was agreed to.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
which substituted a new section 13, which | provided that "the total amount of the bills and notes of the Company payable to bearer on demand, actually in circulation, shall not at any time exceed the amount of the capital of the company actually paid up." It was found, as time went on, that this restriction was prejudicial to the requirements of commerce in this Colony and, by Ordinance No 1 of 1899, an excess issue was authorized for the period of one year from the 31st day of July, 1898, on this condi tion, viz-If there shall have been specially deposited and shall be kept in the custody of the Colonial Secretary and the Colonial Trea- bullion or coin and bullion equal to the whole value, surer for the time being, an amount of coin or of such excess issue for the time being actually in circulation, to be held by the said Colonial
EXPENSES AT THE GAOL. Secretary and Colonial Treasurer exclusively The CHAIRMAN said the Governor recom.. for the redemption of such bills and notes mended the Council to vote a sum of $4,100 to wherever the same may have been issued."
meet certain expenses of the Victoria Gaol dur. It is obvious that such an arrangement afforded ing the current year. The principal excess ample security for the redemption of any such
was in the cost of the food for the prisoners- excess issue. Accordingly, the arrangement was 33,000. The estimate was made in May or June from 31st July, 1899, by Ordinance No. 17 of wards the end of the year. continued in force for a period of another year last year, and the contract was entered inte to- In the interval the 1899. The present Ordinance continues the money had been already voted. The amount vot. arrangement, which has been found to meet the ed was $9,000, and the contract was for $12,000- convenience of the mercantile community, for a The increase in the contract was caused by the further period, viz, till 18th day of August, large increase in the price of food and an im 1908. That date has been fixed by the Secre-provement in the diet scale. The remainder of tary of State as being the date on which the the increase was due to the supplying of hot Bank's continued term of incorporation con- water for the prisoners and an increase in the ferred upon it by Ordinance No. 21 of 1887 drying apparatus. All this meant more coal will expire.
and would account for another $1,000.
The vote was agreed to.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the motion was carried.
The ( ouncil resolved itself into committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.
On the Council resuming the Bill was read a third time and passed.
DAMAGE BY THE LATE STORM. The CHAIRMAN said the Governor recommen- ded the Council to vote a sum of $5,000, to cover the cost of repairs to roads, etc., caused by the rainstorm of the 14th to 15th June.
The vote was agreed to.
This was all the business.
SUPREME COURT.
25th July.
THE LIQUOR LICENSES ORDINANCE. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the third reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Liquor Licenses Ordinance, 1898, and to repeal the Liquor Licenses Amendment Ordinance, 1899. He suid-The only reason why this Bill was held over and not read a third time at last meeting of the Council was that we might have further time to consider the ques- tion of adjunct licenses. I would like to point out that the fees for adjunct licenses were fixed. in 1886 at least 14 years age by the original Bill at precisely the same amount that they stand at to-day. This Bill does not alter in any way the fee for an adjunct license. Therefore all persons who have taken out licenses, knowing | IN THE MATTER OF THE MAN ON INSURANCE
Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Acting lerk of on that the law was what it was, can certainly have
cils).
FINANCIAL.
The ACTING Colonial SECRETARY laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 37, 38, and 39 and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and
the motion was carried.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee (No. 13) and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the motion was carried.
IN APPELLATE JURISDICTION.
BEFORE HIS HONOUR SIR JOHN W. Car- RINGTON, C.M.G. (CHIEF JUSTICE) AND HIS HONOUR T. SERCOMBE SMITH (ACTING PUISNE JUDGE.)
COMPANY, LIMITED. This was the hearing by the Full Courts of a petition by Ho Tung for leave to appeal to the Privy Council against the Judgments of the Courts delivered on the 3rd July.
no reason now to have the fee reduced at a time when other licenses are being increased. If the Bill had included in the schedule an in- crease in the fee for an adjunct license then those who hold such licenses might have said they would rather have them reduced. Their case has been carefully considered, and the Government has come to the conclusion that they really have no case for a reduction.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY second-of ed and the motion was carried.
The Council went into committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.
On the Council resuming the Bill was read a third time and passed.
SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION,
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS laid on the table the report of the Public Works Com- The Council went into committee on the Bill mittee (No. 2) and moved its adoption.
entitled An Ordinance to authorise the Ap- The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.propriation of a supplementary sum of four and the motion was carried.
THE KOWLOON GODOWNS.
A Bill entitled an Ordinance to further amend the Kowloon Godowns Tramways Ordin- ance, 1897, was read a first time, on the motion of the ATTORNEY GENERAL seconded by the ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.
THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANK ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to again continue in force for further period the provisions of section 3 of the Houg kong and Shanghai Bank Ordinance, 1899, with regard to the excess issue of bills and notes payable to bearer on demand. He said- It will be remembered that the Hongkong and Shanhai Banking Corporation was origrinally incorporated, in this Colony, by Ordinance No. 5 of 1866. The 13th Section of that Ordinance was amended by Ordinance No. 21 of 1882
hundred and eighty-one thousand three hundred and thirty-five dollars and thirty- five cents, to defray the charges of the year
1899.
On the Council resuming the Bill was read a third time and passed.
The Council then adjourned until Monday week.
MEETING OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was held immediately after the Council meeting, the Ac- ting Colonial secretary presiding.
INCREASES OF SALARIES.
re-
The CHAIRMAN, said the Governor commended the Council to vote a sum of $2,700 to cover, during the current year, the cost of
increases of salaries of His Honour Sir John
W. Carrington, Knight, C.M.G.. Chief Justice, Mr. E. C. Lewis, Assistant Postmaster General,
Mr. Slade (instructed by Messrs. Wilkinsou and Grist) appeared for the petitioner Ho Tung and J. J. Francis, Q.C. (instructed by Messrs. Deacon and Hastings) appeared for the Man On Insurance Co., Limited, to oppose the granting
the petition.
The petition was as follows:-1.- Your Peti- tioner on the 29th day of January, 1900, filed a notice of motion herein in this Honourable Court in its Original Jurisdiction for the rec- tification of the register of the above-named Company by removing therefrom the names of certain persons in respect of eleven shares in the said Company and substituting therefore the name of the Petitioner as the holder of the said shares, the said Company having refused to accept the transfer of the said shares to your
Petitioner.
2.-Your Petitioner was on the said date and still is the sole beneficial owner of the said eleven shares, which are of the present market value of $1,034, equal to £120 17s. 3d. at the present rate of exchange.
3. On the 5th day of February, 1900, the said motion came on for hearing before his Honour the Chief Justice and a rule nisi ordering the said Company to show cause why the said register should not be rectified as prayed was granted.
4.- On the 16th and 17th days of February, 1900, the said Company showed causes before his Honour the Chief Justice and on the 26th day of February, 1900, judgment was delivered and the said motion dismissed.
5.- On the 7th day of April, 1900, your Petitioner filed & notice of motion in
its this Honourable Court · in Original
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