No. 29.
Sir,
Hongkong,
Reg
C.O.
5524
The 15 FEB
Government House,
19th
January, 1900.
132
Encl. 1. 30th Dec. 1899...
Encl. 2. 12th Jan. 1900.
Encl. 3.
x with 6 share copies.
I have the honour to transmit for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure the following Ordinance entitled "The Summoning of Chinese Ordinance, 1899," together with the customary Report by the Honourable the Acting Attorney General.
2. From the list of "objects and reasons" attached to the draft Bill, of which a copy is annexed, you will observe that the Ordinance is modelled upon similar enactments existing in the Federated Malay States. While legislation of this nature was unnecessary so long as the boundaries of this Colony did not extend far beyond the island of Hong Kong, the large area recently brought under the jurisdiction of the Colonial Government has rendered it a matter of pressing importance that some means should be devised whereby Chinese residing in the New Territory might be compelled to appear when duly summoned by an accredited official acting under the Governor's instructions. It is highly desirable, in the interests of the Chinese themselves, that in cases which specially concern them or in which they are involved...
The Right Honourable
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.
80.
&c.
80.