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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 1ST DECEMBER, 1866.
I am not responsible for explanations or views by others of the intended action of this Government. Yet though such strictures may be either erroneous or incomplete, Chinese Residents must have been gratified by observing the tendency of such remarks to uphold, as far as possible, the freedom of their coasting trade from all but the most necessary restrictions, and so far they anticipate the wishes of this Government.
It will suffice, however, to state that there never was an intention to subject ordinary Passenger and Provision Junks to the inconvenience and expense of procuring the numerous Passes, Notices, and Clearances required of other vessels.
The "Special Permit" mentioned in Clause 16 of the Ordinance is intended to meet such cases,-- and a License of the first or second class-at a lower rate-according to tonnage--will be granted to every Boat of that description which finds moderate security for good conduct and observance of the Law. At the foot of such License it is intended to add a Special Permit dispensing until further notice with the observance of some or all those restrictions, as the case may be, which are only meant to apply when the vessels are less known. All such Licenses and Special Permits will of course be liable to forfeiture for misconduct, and violation of the Law-but, otherwise, it will probably be found by experience that such Vessels will practically suffer no greater inconvenience than at present.
Whatever may be necessary to effect the leading object of the Ordinance, in tracing the conduct and pursuits of every vessel that visits the Port, will be inflexibly carried out. It is however not intended and would be most unwise to harass with needless restrictions vessels already well-known and not suspected.
Government House, 29th November, 1866.
No. 182.
RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, Governor.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The following Extract of a Letter from Mr. Vice-Consul MAYERS, in charge of Her Majesty's Consulate at Canton, enclosing Copy of Proclamation issued by His Excellency The Vice-Roy of the Two KWANG and other High Officers, declaring the Hongkong Dollar to be a Valid Tender in payment of Government dues, is published for general information.
By Order,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 30th November, 1866.
No. 218.
W. T. MERCER,
Colonial Secretary.
BRITISH CONSULATE, CANTON, 26th November, 1866.
SIR,-With reference to my despatch No. 189 of the 26th October, forwarding Copy of the Minutes of the Assay, held here of the Dollars issued by the Mint of Hongkong, I have now the honor to state, for the information of His Excellency SIR RICHARD MACDONNELL, that a Proclamation has been issued by the principal Chinese Authorities of this Province, in which the new Dollar is acknowledged as a valid tender in payment of dues to the Government at the ascertained rate.
I enclose a translation of this Proclamation, together with a copy in original stamped with the seals of the Viceroy, Governor, and Superintendent of Customs.
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I am, Sir, Your most obedient Servant,
(Signed,)
WM. FREDк. MAYERS,
Vice-Consul in Charge.
The Hon. W. T. MERCER, Esq.,
Colonial Secretary, Hongkong.
PROCLAMATION.
SUI, Viceroy and Commander-in-Chief of the Provinces of Kwang-tung and Kwang-si: Kwo, Governor of the Province of Kwang-tung; and
SHIH, Superintendent of the Imperial Maritime Customs of Kwang-tung;
Issue the following Commands for general instruction.
Whereas the population of the Province of Kwang-tung make use in their daily transactions of Foreign Money, the circulation of which has long been customary, and has been admitted as advantageous and convenient, Now of late there have been issued from the Mint of Hongkong Dollars, Half Dollars, and other Coins of smaller denomination, and request has been made by the British Acting Consul Mayers that officials might be deputed to submit this Coinage to Assay. Hereupon officials were accordingly appointed, for the purpose of jointly proceeding with the testing process; and the result of the Assay has been that, on being brought into comparison with the Standard of Hai-kwan Sycee Silver, the Hongkong Dollar is equal to the Standard of Nine hundred-thousandths, and hence One hundred and Eleven Taels, One Mace, and One Candareen in the new Coinage of Hongkong are equivalent to One hundred Taels in Hai-kwan Sycee. A certificate to this effect has been drawn up in testimony thereof by the Kao Hêng Mow and four remaining Customs' Banks. It is proper, therefore, that the same be admitted at the aforesaid rate in the payment of dues to the Government, as also to general circulation, for the convenience of the public; and this Proclamation is accordingly issued.