Report on an Ordinance intituled
An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the Law relating to "Chinese Passenger ships" as defined by the Chinese Passengers Act, 1855, and concerning Asiatic Emigrante
generally.
The approval of the Right Honourable the Secretary
of State for the Colonies of the introduction of this
Ordinance was conveyed in his despatch of the 15th July,
1915.
Section 46 of the Ordinance has been altered in
accordance with the directions in paragraph 2 of that
despatch.
In accordance with the directions in paragraph 3
of the despatch a copy of the bill was forwarded to Hie
Excellency the Governor of the Straite Settlements for
his observations, and a copy of his reply, with its
enclosure is attached. The remarks of the Protector
of Chinese were considered, but it was thought that they
did not call for any alteration of the bill,
With regard to the definitions of "Enigrant ship",
it was felt to be advisable to keep to the form of
definition which agreed with the Imperial Act, from
which to a certain extent the legislative power of this
Colony is derived in this subject, especially as the
matter did not seem to be of any importance to the
Straits Settlements. It will be noticed that the
Straits Settlements Ordinance is an immigration Ordi-
nance,
with regard to the question of the photographs of
female deck passengers, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs
was of opinion that it would not be worthwhile to take
power to require photographs and examination in the case
of female deck passengers by non-emigrant ships, and
he was of the opinion that the matter must always remain
for detective work here and at singapore.
522
As regards section 30, it can only be pointed out that
ships carrying Asiatic emigrants to the Straits Settlements
must comply with the stricter requirements of the immigration
law of that Colony.
and
slight changes have been made in sections 42 and 44,
certain obvious errors and misprints have been corrected in
the following places:-
Section 3;
Section 16:
Fourth schedule; regulations 6(2) and 15, and para-
graph (9) of the form attached to that schedile:
Fifth schedule, regulations 1 and 2(1): sixth schedule, regulation 4 (6)(a)
Apart from the alterations referred to above, the ordinano
was passed in the form approved by the Secretary of state.
The Ordinance of course will not come into operation
until His Majesty's confirmation of aame shall have been
proclaimed in Hongkong by His Excellency the Governor.
In my opinion this is an Ordinance to which His Excellency
the Governor may properly assent in the name of His Majesty
and on His behalf,
Attorney General,
8.12.15.