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3. To meet this difficulty, a short Private Bill, a copy of which is annexed, was, at the instance of Bishop RAIMONDI, brought into the Legislative Council by the Senior Un-official Member (Mr. RYRIE). This Bill purported to authorize the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith to sell or mortgage the specific lot in question; but, on consideration by the Law Committee of the Legislative Council, it was considered that this Bill would not have the desired effect; and it was accordingly withdrawn.
•
4. It will be seen that Bishop RAIMONDI now wishes for an Incorporation Act to enable him to deal with this and similar cases; but as the Attorney General remarks, "he does not state to whom or to what body it is that he desires "that incorporation should be granted, whether to the Bishop of Acantho (Bishop "RAIMONDI'S title), or to the Sacred Congregation, or to the Vicar Apostolic, or "otherwise; nor does he say who or what the Sacred Congregation is, or with "what authority he applies on behalf of the Sacred Congregation."
5. However, at the urgent request of Bishop RAIMONDI, I forward the case in its present incomplete form; with the hope that your Lordship will furnish me with detailed instructions as to the course to be pursued in the present instance, and with full information as to the guiding precedents which have doubtless been made in other Colonies. In particular, it is desired to have a draft of a Bill which has been sanctioned, in similar instances, elsewhere.
6. I may add that this case is one which, owing to the needs of the Roman Catholic Mission, requires an early decision; that there is no objection (of which I am aware) to the sale of the land in question; and that it is obviously desirable, on many grounds, to facilitate the transfer of landed property in a Colony situated as is Hongkong.
Enclosure 5.
I have, &c.,
(Signed),
G. F. BOWEN.
P.S.-June 12th, 1884.-Since the above despatch was written, I have received from Bishop RAIMONDI, (in answer to a letter to him from the Acting. Colonial Secretary embodying the opinion of the Attorney General), the annexed reply in explanation of those points which apparently required elucidation. The whole case is now before your Lordship; and, as I have already said, an early decision and full instructions for my guidance respecting it are very desirable.
Enclosure 6.
Enclosure 7.
The Right Honourable
THE EARL OF DERBY, K.G.,
&c.,
Sc.,
G. F. B.