450
from China
Passenger traffic to and from (including Alongting) is maintained. Including Saigon, however, the actual duration of voyage, though not averaging more than seven days, is more than two, and thus the Steamers fall within the law.
7.
Nevertheless, I am not prepared to recommend that any amendment direct from the Imperial Act should be in that direction. It would, in my opinion, be preferable to extend the time limit of the existing law to enable First Class Steamers to carry on their legitimate Passenger traffic with neighboring Colonies without unnecessary interference, and without placing them at an undue disadvantage with Foreign Vessels leaving Hong Kong and Amoy for the same places, which is at present the case.
8.
I agree with the Emigration Commissioners that it would be impossible to define with sufficient accuracy "Mail Steamers" or "First Class Steamers" so as to include the Peninsular and Oriental Company and Messageries Maritimes Company, and exclude other Steamers, granting to the former exemption from the operation of the existing law.
If this suggestion could be...