When Sir J. Bowring became Governor, the Legislative Council was presided over by the Lieutenant-Governor and consisted of 6 Members of whom 2 were non-officials. In 1855 Sir John submitted to the Secretary of State (Mr. Labouchere) a proposal to enlarge the basis of the Council by introducing 4 additional official and 3 non-official Members, giving a total of 13 Members exclusive of the Governor. Mr. Labouchere disapproved of so great an enlargement but sanctioned a moderate addition. This was given effect to by the introduction of the Colonial Treasurer, the Chief Magistrate and one nonofficial Member, the relative proportions being thus preserved and the Legislative Council then consisted of officers of the Government and 3 members of the community. Sir John however added (in 1857) the Surveyor General and in November, 1858, probably with a view to secure the passing of the Praya Ordinance, he further introduced the Auditor General, so that there were 8 official to 3 non-official Members. Against this measure the 'unofficial Members at the bottom of the table,' as Sir John humorously styled them, put in a formal protest (November 20, 1858) and suggested that the nomination of the Auditor General should remain in abeyance until the original number of officials be returned to by the occurrence of vacancies or that the original proposition of Sir J. Bowring as to the number of non-official Members should also be carried out. A memorial impeaching the Governor was talked of, just before he left for Manila, but after further consideration the idea was abandoned. From after the close of the session of 1857 the proceedings of the Council were regularly published and from March 25th, 1858, the Governor allowed the public to be present at the debates.
The principal bone of contention between the Governor and his Legislative Council was the construction of a Praya or sea-wall which was to extend along the whole front of the town from Navy Bay to Causeway Bay and to be named Bowring Praya. The Council heartily approved of the completion (October 1, 1855) of the new Government House (at a total
