as in the case of the "Mile",
on the 14th April, especially which left Hongkong; the Immigrant Shipping Ordinance has been faithfully adhered to; and it is much to be regretted that by any laxity in practice in that Colony the Masters of these vessels would be afforded an opportunity of palliating the offence of overcrowding these vessels by referring to the Emigration Certificates of officers appointed to carry out the Law.
6. In several instances which have been from time to time reported, the Masters of the vessels bringing Chinese may have been deceived by similar certificates upon their Passenger Lists, and the fine imposed therefore been the minimum; in the present case, however, the "Alfred" is a British Ship, the Master might, as a British subject, be expected to have known the number of Passengers he was allowed to carry; he had evidently attempted to evade the payment of the Passenger Rate by placing Passengers under his "Articles"; he had succeeded in leaving China with sixteen people on board in excess of the number certified by the Emigration Officer; and 1924 Statute Adults above the number allowed by Law.
Under these circumstances I considered it advisable, in instituting a prosecution against the Master of the vessel, to direct the Assistant Emigration Officer to press for a heavy penalty.
The result has been that the Master was fined Five pounds for lack of the 1921/2 Statute Adults in excess, being in the whole, six hundred and sixty-two pounds, ten shillings, with Costs, or the Alternative of 144 days imprisonment in default of the convictions.
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