H. G. Ward applied for this clearance on the ground that the facilities for inspecting the emigrants and provisions were greater at Macao than Hongkong; that the departure of the ships from Macao would shorten the voyage by about 8 days; and that the measure, fittings, and regulation of the ship had been inspected and approved by the Emigration Officer at Hongkong, and all the requirements of the Chinese Passengers Act had been complied with.
Sir J. Bowring referred the application to the Emigration Officers and to his legal adviser, both of whom decidedly recommended a compliance with it. The latter added that it was undoubtedly competent to the Governor to appoint the Consul at Macao to be Emigration Agent for the purpose of carrying out the arrangement.
Sir J. Bowring declined to adopt that course and required the ship to return to Hongkong for a clearance.
The explanation given by Sir J. Bowring for this decision is that he was unwilling to appoint the Consul at Macao as Emigration Agent (1) because Macao was not strictly, and certainly could not be called, a Chinese Treaty Port, and, therefore, ...