The case is one in which prevention by care beforehand is important than punishment afterwards if punishment can be inflicted.
In this respect the practice at Hongkong and the principles by which the Emigration officer is to be guided require reconsideration.
It may be assumed that sundry provisions had been sufficient and of good quality the Master would have failed to induce them - as he did - juice which seems to have been on board. It appears indeed that his ship contained a large quantity of provisions which a man of humanity and proper feeling would have used for his passengers when their provisions ran short. But he had evidently no feeling for his passengers.
And it is therefore a matter for satisfaction that the Court at Victoria passed on him a severe, but well-merited, sentence.
The Governor of Hongkong should not allow him again to proceed from that Colony in command of a passenger ship - and does not at present possess the necessary power for that purpose. An Ordinance should be passed.