"protect them in their religious 'observances', and that it would be a
"downright breach of faith
"disgraceful if we
"And most
we did not allow them?"
This has references
to
a series
of
religious ceremonies (so called) in connection with a huge procession. Now by Ordinance 14 of 18445 the allowance of the procession rested with the Chief Magistrate, who was then the Head of the Police. His
powers
by
Ordinance 8 of 1858
were taken
away. Similarly the allowance
of Religious
Ceremonies
was vested in the Governor by Section 11 of Ordinance 8 of 1858 (which Ordinance repealed Ordinance of 1857 Section XXXIV).
giving similar powers to the Registrar General.
122
The opinion of the Head of Police was invariably asked.
By proclamation the powers of the Chief Magistrate
were transferred to the Superintendent
of Police. But since 1882 a policy
was adopted, without the knowledge of the Head of Police, under which the Registrar General's Department assumed
to exercise its own discretion and to grant permits vastly in excess of what had in previous years satisfied the Chinese Community, without reference to the opposition of the Captain, Superintendent's minute. I objected
to it as unsuitable and unwise, because it was in the heart of the European town. No notice was
given to
one