passengers from China to the Straits Settlements during Twelve days of the North East Monsoon - days would be a liberal time to give a sailing vessel from Amoy or Swatow or Foochow to Singapore at that time. of the year; but in Steamers the passage is made in much less time.
Under the Emigration laws Hongkong the Steamer could not have left in an overcrowded state. The question on one side is whether the vessel came within the meaning of "Foreign Going Ship" in the interpretation clause of the Merchant Shipping Act; the vessel would have come under the "Chinese Passenger's Act 1855" which deals with Asiatics generally.
The Steamer would have had to carry a doctor and the space below decks would have been computed at the rate of 12 Superficial and 72 Cubic feet for each passenger, no deck passengers being allowed.
On examining a return of the vessels that Cleared from Hongkong for the Straits Settlements during the last North East Monsoon, it will be seen that the number of deck passengers was but 7.3 per cent of the passengers accommodated below. No accident or inconvenience has attended the conveyance of deck passengers; and, I most respectfully urge on behalf of the British Ship Owners interested in this particular trade, that no further restrictions be put on the Conveyance.