4.
3.
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just grounds for exemption, while "both strongly protest against enforcement of the Law now, after it has been tacitly allowed to remain in abeyance ever since the passing of the Act.
5. Very full consideration has been given to the matter, and with every desire to relieve both Companies from all unnecessary annoyance and inconvenience I have failed to find any satisfactory authority for acceding to the views of the Agents. Yet, as the Acting Attorney General, as will be seen from the enclosed papers, has advised that the exemption asked for be granted pending reference to Your Lordship, I have adopted his course, as the interests involved are manifestly very great.
Enclosure.
6. The question, which I have to submit to Your Lordship is briefly, are Contract Mail Steamers exempted from the operation of the Chinese Passengers Act 1855? If they are so exempted, it will follow as a matter of course that they do not come within the provision of the local Ordinances passed under the power conferred by the Imperial Act. And as the decision, whatever it may be, is of great and pressing importance,