The order provides no penalty for the infraction of sec. ... . Stromed at Common Land be punishable as a Misdemeanor by fine and Imprisonment, but there should be an express provision defining the Punishment. On the other hand Sec. I provides Punishment for Steam vessels under 100 tons further arriving in the Colony with more Passengers than the Regulations permit. This is levelled at, I presume, vessels which despatch ... with Passengers from the mainland of China, for instance Kowloon, which adjoins British Kowloon and is a part of the Chinese Territory.
The Colonial Legislature may prohibit any Vessel Embarking in the number of Passengers specified, but the master of the Vessel arriving in the Colony with more Passengers than permitted by local Laws may be imposed a fine. The Printed Paper relating to the Hongkong depot to stop the Macao Coolic Trade, I propose by reference to insert in the order the first ordinance which was subsequently passed, the Provision in Sec. 17 to this very point. (See p. 12) and it will be seen that the D. O. considered it Objectionable and it was struck out.
Since writing the above I have received Telegram No. 10139 in which the Hongkong Govt asks for authority to pass the consolidation Bill at once. I cannot understand this vehement hurry for the necessity of Communicating by Telegraph. I think it desirable to check this ardour. I have recommended authorising Mr. A. Kennedy on his return to pass the measure if he shall think it very expedient to do so at once.
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