16
supported this Bill in -
Council.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord, Your Lordship's Most tordient
Bumble Servant,
Ben Barker
ડે
12830 Rec
Res 8 OCT 91
Enclosure 1.
785
The Right Honorable
The Secretary of State
for the Colonies.
The Humble Petition of the Undersigned Chinese Merchants, Shipowners and Traders residing and carrying on business in the British Golony of Hongkong.
Most Respectfully Sheweth:~
1.-On the 2nd and 6th days of May last there was introduced into and passed through the Legislative Council of Hongkong an Ordinance entitled "An Ordinance to restrict the Loading and Unloading of Cargo on Sunday in the Waters of the Colony."
2. By this Ordinance, which is to take effect from the 1st August next, it is forbidden, under heavy penalties, to receive on board, load, work or discharge from any steamship, or from any sailing ship of European construction or design, any cargo without a permit from the Harbour Master, for which permit a heavy fee is chargeable.
3.This Ordinance is intended to relieve European officers and seamen from the necessity of Sunday labour, and it was calculated by His Excellency the Governor and stated in his speech in the Legislative Council on the 18th April 1989, that it would operate for the benefit of about ONE THOUSAND PERSONS in the course of
a year.
4. In the same speech His Excellency pointed out that it would, to a greater or less extent, throw out of employment every Sunday, OVER 100,000 CHINESE, to the serious diminution of the wealth and earning power of this community.
5.-Of 605 Steamers that entered this port during the months of March, April and May last, 274, or considerably over one-third of the entire number, were either owned or chartered by Chinese,
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