4 of 1870)
573
than British vessels and to any place not in
the dominions of the Queen".
It was pointed out that the restriction to British vessels would lead to difficulties with foreign powers whose treaty rights would be infringed and Lord Clarendon accordingly modified his opinion so far as to agree that foreign vessels might be allowed to carry coolies from Hong Kong to British Colonies provided the terms of the Chinese Passengers Act were complied with and that a certainty was obtained that these coolies would be delivered in a British Colony".
Lord Granville concurred in this view, as modified, and issued instructions to that effect to the Governor of Hong Kong.
To enable the Governor to carry out the wishes of Her Majesty's Government an Ordinance was passed in Hong Kong in 1870 providing that no Chinese Passenger ship should