"may not be contemplated. By the Provisions of the Chinese Passengers Act" and (2) because it is uncertain whether after the expected resignation of the present Consul another officer in any way be appointed.
In respect to the first objection, I have to observe that a reference to the Chinese Passenger Act would have shown that whether Macao is a "Port" or not it was within the contemplation of the Act. The definition of a "Chinese Passenger Ship" (Section 2) is every ship carrying from any Port in Hong Kong or within 100 miles of the Coast thereof a certain number of Passengers. A British ship sailing from Macao would, therefore, be a "Chinese Passenger Ship" in the same way in every respect as a ship sailing from Hongkong. In respect to the second objection, I am unable to understand in what force it consists. I presume it means that as the continuance of a Consul who might act as Emigration Officer at Macao was uncertain, it was inexpedient to encourage those engaged in Chinese emigration to expect that the same facilities would be afforded them in future.