9
200
and surveillance to which they are liable in Hongkong. - For a more detailed explanation of the motives which led to the framing of this enactment, I must refer your Lordship to my Despatch No. 139 of 21st April 1849.
Much inconvenience having been experienced in the empanelling of Juries on account of the limited European population of the Colony, I was induced, in order to remedy this evil, to pass Ordinance No.4, which reduces the property qualification of common Jurors from 1000 Dollars to $500.
Ordinance No.5 empowers the Chief Justice to grant orders for the attendance of Witnesses in suits pending before the Consular Courts, before Commissioners appointed by the Consuls to receive in the Colony the depositions of Witnesses who may be residing in Hongkong. By rule of Court (since approved by your Lordship) the sittings of the Supreme Court at Hongkong were increased from 4 to 6 in each year.
This provision, which was concurred in by the Chief Justice, has, in conjunction with the enlarged Summary Jurisdiction granted to the Supreme Court by Ordinance 13 of 1849, materially obviated the delay which was formerly experienced in the disposal of civil suits and actions.
Population.
The Return for 1848 showed 21,514 Souls exclusive of troops, and that for 1849 exhibits 29,507; whence it appears that there is an increase of Population of 7,993. I have before had occasion to remind your Lordship that a great proportion of the Chinese who frequent Hongkong are of very migratory habits, and that this influx, which it will be seen by the table at the end of this paragraph is comprised almost entirely of that description of people, is to be accounted for partly by the unsettled state of Macao in consequence of the murder of Governor Amaral, from whence