9. The primary object of the Legislature in passing that Act was to put a stop to any participation by British subjects, or toleration by British Authorities, of the terrible abuse, of which had disgraced the Chinese emigration. But the Legislature refused to interfere further in the case of foreign ships, or to draw the restrictions tighter in respect to British ships, than was necessary for this purpose. It was, therefore, provided first that the authority to visit should be limited to British Ships or Ships within British jurisdiction, and secondly that ships proceeding on voyages of less than seven days should not be required to take an Emigration Officer's certificate.
10. If a foreign ship though fitted and prepared in Hong Kong does not take passengers on board till she is beyond its limits, she does not so much evade the Law as avail herself of a liberty which...