Circular.
187
Foreign Office,
January 29, 1856.
Sir,
I transmit to
herewith
you
an
two copies of "Act for the Pregulation of Chinese Passenger Ships," which was passed in the last session
of Parliament. The object of this Act is to prevent, as far as practicable, the occurrence on board British ships engaged in the conveyance of Chinese Emigrants, of such calamities as have resulted in 100 many instances from the absence of proper care and attention on the part of those engaged in the transport from China of this class of Emigrants.
You will perceive that by the 8th section of the Act, a Chinese passenger - ship, being a British
ship, is liable, if the Emigration Papers of such ship
ate
forged or fraudulently altered, to be seized and forfeited to Her Majesty. As, however, Her Majesty
has not by Treaty or usage, jurisdiction over British
Her Majesty's Consul