No 94 of 1848.
Inclosures No 5 in Despi
and freedom from ambiguity. and others as to it's accuracy with a testimonials from certain, Chinese Shipmasters to the Junkmen in May 1846; relative to his translation of the Proclamation addressed November, 1848.
Statement from Dr. Gützlaff
247
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
His Excellency the Governor is pleased to direct, that the following Instructions to the Harbour Master, and Notification, be published for general information, in the hopes that such of the European Community as have dealings with the Junkmen and other Chinese connected with them, will render their assistance in promulgating and explaining their contents as opportunities offer.
By Order,
Colonial Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 20th November, 1848.
(Copy) No. 238.
W. CAINE, Colonial Secretary.
COLONIAL OFFICE, VICTORIA, HONGKONG,
20th November, 1848.
SIR,
I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to enclose copy of a Notification, which you are hereby instructed to communicate generally to the Junkmen of the Chinese Shipping in the Harbour. His Excellency desires that you will at the same time use every effort to allay the fears which these persons are alleged to entertain of Piracy within the Harbour, by explaining to them that for some time past no act of Piracy has been committed in this Port; and enjoining them, in the event of violence being used to them on board their Junks, by any person or persons, whether in the employment of Government or not, to lay their complaint thereof immediately before the Police Magistrates, or any of the local authorities, as by them the matter cannot fail to be properly investigated.
You will further cause the Junkmen to be made aware that a British Ship of war is almost always stationed here, the boats of which, as well as a Police boat, guard the Harbour at night; and that, should it appear to them that there is any other falsely representing itself to be one of these, they ought to lose no time in giving the necessary information.
Translations of the Notification are being prepared, and will be forwarded to you for distribution as soon as they are completed.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) W. CAINE,
Colonial Secretary.
W. PEDDER, Esq., Harbour Master and Marine Magistrate.
(True copy,)
W. CAINE, Colonial Secretary.
(Copy)
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
With reference to the proceedings of the Coroner's Inquests held upon the bodies of the two Chinese and the Policeman who were killed upon the 15th ultimo, His Excellency the Governor is pleased to notify to all whom it may concern, that as it appears that there has been some misapprehension of the meaning of a Government Proclamation dated 23d May 1846, it is not to be understood that the terms therein employed could have been intended to supersede the powers of the Police or other Government officers, whether vested in them by Local Ordinances or by the General Law.
His Excellency is also pleased to notify, that although it is not the intention of Government to proceed against the parties connected with the unfortunate affair of the 15th ultimo, in which an illegal opposition to constituted authority has been attended with the most serious consequences, no person whatsoever, hereafter committing a similar act of resistance, shall be allowed to avail himself of the plea of ignorance of either Law or Custom, but shall be forthwith prosecuted as the Law directs.
By Order,
(Signed)
W. CAINE, Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 20th November, 1848.
(True copy,)
W. CAINE, Colonial Secretary.