&
1844 Sir H. Pottinger.
April 20 31 Ordinance. No 6th & 7th. Vict, declaring English Usury Laws in force
Interest at 12 per cent.
Rate of
April 20 32. Ordinance to repeal, 6th & 7th Vict prohibiting Distillation of Spirits in the Colony.
Apothecaries, Chemists, & Druggists allowed to have & use Still
of
April 22 33 Ordinances in 16 sections
Requires six printed copies required by Colonial Regulations.
Rd
April 30 34 Right of Portuguese Authorities at Macao to British Protection in event of their becoming involved in a War with China.
Considers it a strictly Foreign Office question.
In reply to Desp: 18/43.
April 30 35. Post Office Estate Regulations
Further Correspondence with all Scales relative to new postal arrangements. In continuation of Desp: 27 & 28/44
Draws attention to large number of Letters received & Posted and necessity for a large establishment for transmission of English Mails via Calcutta and Madras and collection of British and Indian Postage.
Instructions to Clerk in Charge
Government Notification 29th April (No 3/44) prohibiting the collection of Colonial Postage of 10 on okay
1 36 Translations from
9:
1844
Sir H. Pottinger.
May 4 37 Land Leases.
Encloses further remonstrance from landholders.
In continuation of Desp (16/22/44)
Supports their appeal to have their Buildings in perpetuity subject to alteration of Ground Rent every 75 years.
May 7 38. Ordinance 9/44, 6th & 7th Vict for restraining Colonists from Trading in China north of 32° N Lat
May 7 39 Ordinance 10/44, 6th & 7th Vict, for regulating Summary proceedings of Justices
May 7
Encloses
40 Ordinance 11/44, 6th & 7th Vict, for Licencing Public Houses and regulating Retail of Fermented & Spirituous liquors.
End
of
May 7 41 Ordinance 12/44, 6th & 7th Vict. for establishing & regulating Police Force.
Provides for appointment of a Chief Magistrate & Superintendents
to superintend
May 7 42 Ordinances 7 to 12 promulgated, six printed copies required separately as regulated by Colonial Regulations.
May 7 43 Colonial Outwards Correspondence up to date.
In continuation of Desp: 11/0
Correspondence kept up
Forwards copies of
June 14 44 Colonial Accounts previous to exchange of ratifications of Treaty.
Forwards "Documents connected with, also Treasurer's quarterly Account Current from 1st Oct/41 to 30th April/43, shewing monthly expenses of each Department
Newspapers.
Explains circumstances under which he has authorized their Publication in Hong Kong Government Gazette.
Refers to his Desp: 14/43.
Has called for Duplicate Vouchers - Contracts etc. Will bring home with him a complete copy of subsequent Accounts to 8th May/44 supported by Warrants &c.
Sir H. Pottinger reports having delayed his Departure until some time after his successor's arrival to ensure a smooth transition.