Laws in the Colony and this will become the only law in cases of persons unable to meet their engagements in this Colony, thus as in England merging Insolvency in Bankruptcy.
"His Honor the Acting Chief Justice Ball had the kindness, in consequence of my very indisposition which for months unfitted me for serious mental labour, to undertake the revision of the draft and the judicious alterations and amendments which adapt the Ordinance to the special requirements of this Colony have in the main been made by him.
With an efficient staff of officers formed or educated on this intricate subject, the system will be a great boon to this Colony. A doubt as to this point had led me, after much labour, to conclude that an adaptation of the Insolvent Laws long in existence and in well understood use here to the special wants of the Colony might have been preferable to a Bankruptcy code, but this view has not been concurred in and is very probably erroneous.
Hongkong, 7th May, 1862.
(Signed) John Smale, Attorney General.
Colonial Secretary.