To the 34 & 38 Vict. Cap. 88 register of deaths is required to be kept by captains and Masters of British ships carrying passengers to or from any port of the United Kingdom and by subsection 3, the Board of Trade may direct that a return be made amongst others to the Harbour Master of Hong Kong if the Board so please. This enactment might be extended to vessels carrying passengers to or from the Colony and it may be necessary if it be found that masters of ships do not take possession of or hand over deceased passengers' effects, to make provisions to compel them to do so.
I do not think that any such power could be conferred on the Tung Wah Hospital nor even as matters now stand do I think it advisable that the Tung Wah Hospital should be asked to undertake the duty of administering deceased passengers' effects. Before the property is distributed it must first be collected. Such property must be obtained from the Master or Officers of the ship. The Harbour