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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Japanese escorting squadron. Six officers, two colour-sergeants, and 50 marines from H.M.S. Glory are going down in the Nam Sang to look after the refugees. The Nam Sang probably leaves Hongkong for Mirs Bay on the 24th inst. At Mirs Bay H.M.S. Amphitrite, which is bringing the refugees down from the north, will meet her, and the men will be transferred for passage west. The Marines from the Glory, after the refugess have be in landed, will be sent home from Colombo, H.M.3. King Alfred left for home on the 3 th with the Glory's relieved orew. The men are in the highest spirits with the prospects of getting home after thair long commission,
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL
A meeting of the Legislative Council was held on the 19th inst. in the Council Chamber.
Present:-
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HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINIS- TERING THE GOVERNMENT, F. H. MAY, C.M.G. Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Acting Colonial Secretary).
Hon. Sir HENRY S. BERKELEY, Kt. (Attorney-General).
Hon. L. A. M. JOHNSTON (Acting Colonial Treasurer).
Hoa. A. W. BEEWIN (Registrar-General). Hon. BASIL R. H. TAYLOR (Acting Harbour Master).
Hon. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Sir C. P. CHATER, C M.G. Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, C.M.G.
Hon. WEI A YUK.
Hon. C. W. DICKSON.
Hon. H. d. POLLOCK, K,C.
Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Acting Clerk of Councils).
FINANCIAL.
The ACTING COLONIAL TRmasurar laid on the table Financial Minutes (Nos. 8 to 12) and moved that they be referred to the Finauce Committee.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee (No. 1) and moved its adoption.
The ACTING COlonial TreasURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
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GOVERNOR'S SALARY: INCREASE. The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the following communication:
Downing Street, 8th December, 1903. Sir, I have recently had under my considera. tion the question of the amount of salary paid to the Governors of first class Crown Colonies, and I have come to the conclusion that the emoluments receive by the Governors of Ceylon, the Straits Settlements and Hongkong are not sufficient to allow of taeir supporting the diguity of their position, as it should be supported, without supplementing their official salary from private income.
2. I am sure that your Legislative Council will see the matter in the same light, and I have therefore to request that you will invite the Council to vote an increase to the Governor's salary, from the 1st of January. 1904, fron five thousand pounds to six thousand pounds a year of which sum one thousand two hundred pounds should be regarded as 80 entertainment allowance to be drawn in full by the Officer Admi- nistering the Government in the Governor's absence on full or half pay leiva.—I have, &o..
ALFRED LYTTELTON.
Th Officer Administering the Government
of Hongkong. MESSES. STEPHENS AND HOWARD'S PETITION,
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY also laid the following paper on the table:-
Downing Street, 21st October, 1903. Sir,-With reference to my despatch No, 262 of the 16th of July last, relative to a peti- tion presented to His Majesty the King by Messrs. Stephens and Howard, I have the hon- our to forward copy of a letter dated 5th Sep- tember addressed by them to the Secretary of State for the Home Departmen..
2. As you have already been informed, His Majesty was not pleased to give any directions
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with regard to the petition and Messrs. Step- hens and Howard were so informed.
3. Mr. Howard has, however, sinos on two occasious in personal interview with the Legal Assistant Unter Sooratary to this Department represented that grat iajastics has been done to him by the entire inadequacy of the sam awarded to his firm and has contended that they were entitled to rely on the promis of Sir G. Des Voeux in his message to the Legis lative Council of the 22nd of March, 1839, that the fullest justice would be done in respect of private rights, a promise which Mr. Ho vard alleges has not in this case been fulfill 1,
4. On consideration of the patition and of your despatch No. 59 of the 15th of March, 1899, I am not entirely satisfled that the cɔm- pensation awarded to Messrs. Stephens and Howard may not have been inadequats, but it is obvious that such a question can only be decided in the light of focal knowledge and experience.
5. I therefore request that you will b› good enough to investigate the whole matter afresh, and, if you are of opinion that substantial justice demands it, to as the Legislativ Council to vote an additional sum to the Petitioners, to be paid to them mrely as a matter of grace bat not of right.—I hav, &3.,
ALFRED LYTTELTON.
Governor Sir H. A. Blake, G.C.M.G, &o.
PREPARED OPIUM,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitle an Ordinance to amend the Prepared Opium Ordinance, 1891.
The ACTING Colonial SECRETARY 80cond- ed, and the motion was agreed to.
There were attached to the Bill the following objects and reasons:----
The object of this Ordinance is to check aud nltimately prevent the sale of opium in the Colony by unauthorised persons.
4.
The expressions Prepared Opium and "Preparation" as at present defined in the Prepared Opium Ordinance, 1891, have been found insufficient to prevent the sale of opium in the shape of “pills" and "wine" by unadh.. rised persons. The result has been that while the Opium Farmer has sustained considerable loss from illicit sales of opium in the above men- tioned shape the illicit sellers have been acquit ted when prosecuted owing to the difficulty of proving that opium pills and wine come within the definition necessary to secure a conviction under the Prajared Õpium Ordinance as it stands.
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While affording the Opinn Farmer legitimats protection, povisida is made to exe ap. from the operatio of the Amending Ordinan opium when prescribed or sold in recognise medicina forms or in Europau or American patent medicines.
CHARGES FOR IMBECILE PERSON 1.
The Council went into Committe: on the Bill entitled an Orliaauos to provide for the Recovery of charges incurred on a count of imbecile persons introduced into the Colony.
The ATTORNEY - GENERAL Since ths Council rose, sir, I have re-cast the second clause as it stood when the Council rose-re-cast it in language only. The section is not altered in substance or effect, but the phraseology has been changed and the changes appear in italics in the shape of two new clausos, Nos. 2 and . The old clause as it stood approved by the Council combined in one section what now forms two sections, 2 and 4. As hon. members will see, they are separate matters, and it is better they should be placed in two separate sections. I move that Clauses 2 and 4 as now printed stand part of the Bill in place of the re-arranged olan e. In Sub-section there has been a slight amendment made also so as to make it quite clear what certificate it is that is required to be given. I propose to add the words of refusal of permission to land." I move that this clause as it is now printed stand part of the Bill.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY second- ed, and the motion was agreed to.
The sections as amended are as follows:- (2.) In every case where permission to land any person from any vessel is refused every such person shall be detained by the master on board such vessel and be prevented, by fore, if need be, from landing.
(3.) In every case in which permission to land from any vessel is refused under the authority
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[February 22, 1904.
of this Ordinance, the officer refusing such per- mission shall give a certificate of relusst of pa~- mission to land to the master of saca vossil if so raquired by him.
(4.) No action shall lie against the master of any vessel or any person whomever for any- thing done in execution of the provisions of this Ordinancə.
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The Bill having passed througà Jomnitte stage, the Council resumed.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved that the Bil bo read a third time and passed.
THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY 8)- conded.
Hon. Mr. POLLOK - Your Excellency, I regret to say I must vole against the third reading of this Bill for the reasons which I gave at the last meeting of Council, namely, that I do not think it fair or just to shipowaors that if a person has been put or has embirkad on board a ship as a passenger who is to all outward appearance sane, the charterer or the agent should b, subjected to any charge fo: the exp n883 of keeping in this Colony or the repa- triation of such person. For those r3azons, sir, I fəal bound to vole against the third roading of this bill.
On the motion being put to the vote, His EXCELLENCY declared that the " Ayes" had it In reply to His Excellency, Hou. Mr. POLLOCK said he did not desire th house to divide.
JURY LIST,
The Council afterwards sat in private for revision of the Jury List.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Financs Committe WAS held immediately after the Council, Hoa. A. M: Thomson, Acting Colonial Secretary, presiding.
The following votes were passed :
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INCREASE OF GOVERNOR'S SALARY.
The Offloor Administering the Goverment rec amended the Council to vote a sum of $12,000 id aid of the vote "Governor" aader Personal Emoluments for an increase to the Governor's salary, from the 1st January, 1914.
GRANT TO AN INVALIDED NURSE,
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of
Nursing Sister at $35) as a gratuity to Miss Clara Watson, lately the Government Civil Hospital, invali led from the Service,
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of $1,360 in aid of the vote Public Works Dopart- ment under Personal Emoluments :--
1 Foreman (from January to December
at $3) per month)
...$ 360
I Foreman from January to June at $35 per month and from July to December at $40 per month) 1..$ 450 1 Foreman (from February to Decem-
ber at $50 per mouth)
Total
550
...$1,360
MESSES. STEPHENS AND HOWARD'S CLAIM.
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of $18,223.21 for additional compensation to Messrs. Stephens and Howard in respect of damage sustained owing to the Reclamation in fro it of Marine Lot No, 184.
This amount has been calculated as follows:- Depreciation (as in Musso's case) 75 cents per square foot foot for Area (M.L ́ 181) 32,481 squire' feet.
Damage on lat September, 1898...$24,367.5) Interest thereon from 1st September,
1898, to 28th February, 1904 9,381.46
Total $93,748.96 Deduct amount paid on 29th August,
1993 ...
$15,000.00 Interest thereon up to
525.75 28th February, 1904
Total now payable
15,525.75
$18,223.21
NEW ROOFS FOR CIVIL HOS PITAL
The Officer Administering the Government, recommended the Council to vote a sum of
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