AGEN
296
North East Monsoon, would be considerably lengthened by the necessity of touching at Hongkong; but, were such not the fact, the detention occasioned by putting into port would deter those from proceedings in vessels subject to it.
Under these circumstances, I venture to submit for Your Excellency's consideration whether it should not be competent for the Hongkong Legislature, in accordance with sect II of the Chinese Passenger's Act, to authorise a modification of the Regulations, in so far as they are applicable to the passenger traffic with the neighboring countries within a six weeks' voyage of China; it might not in that case be expedient to recommend the adoption of such a modification to Her Majesty's Government.
Every object of the Act in these instances would be secured by the appointment at Amoy of an officer, whether a member of the Consulate or other person, whose duty it should be to inspect passenger vessels and compel them to limit their passengers to a reasonable number, and to carry sufficient supplies of Water and Rice, obedience being guaranteed by a bond for a smaller amount than that required for coolie ships.