CHINESE PASSENGERS' ACT.
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the same; be it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-
I.—This Ordinance may be cited for all purposes as "The IIongkong Emigration Ordinance, 1870.”
II. In the Interpretation of this Ordinance, the expression "Chinese Passenger Ship" shall have the same meaning as that prescribed by Section III. of “The Hongkong Emigration Ordinance, 1868."
III.—From and after the passing of this Ordinance, no Chinese passenger ship shall clear out or proceed to sea, and the emigration officer shall not grant the certificate prescribed by Section IV. of the "Chinese Passengers Act, 1855," unless the master of such ship shall be provided with a license under the hand of the Governor and the public seal of the Colony, to be obtained in manner hereinafter mentioned.
IV. The owners or charterers of every Chinese passenger ship, or if absent from the Colony their respective agents, shall, before such ship is laid on for the conveyance of Chinese emigrants and before any depôt is opened for their reception, apply in writing to the Colonial Secretary for a licence under the hand of the Governor and the public seal of the Colony for the conveyance of such emigrants, and shall furnish all particulars as to the destination of the said ship and as to all other matters relating to the intended voyage and emigration which may be required
of them.
V-All such particulars shall, if so ordered, be verified upon oath before the emigration officer or any justice of the peace, and every person who shall knowingly furnish untrue particulars shall be liable to imprisonment with or without hard labor, for any period not exceeding six calendar months, and to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, either in addition to or in substitution of such imprisonment.
VI.-The granting of every such license shall be in the discretion of the Governor in Council and shall be subject to the payment of a fine of one hundred dollars and to such conditions as may from time to time be prescribed under instructions from Iler Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies.
VII.-Every license granted under this Ordinance in respect of any Chinese passenger ship shali specify the period within which such ship shall clear out and proceed to sea: Provided always that it shall be lawful for the Governor in Council from time to time to extend such period.
VIII.--In case it shall be shown to the satisfaction of the Governor in Council at any time before the departure of a Chinese passenger ship that the master, mate or any other officer of such ship is unfit for the proper discharge of his duties by reason of incompetency or misconduct, or for any other sufficient cause, it shall be lawful for the Governor by order under his hand to discharge and remove such master, mate, or other officer from the said ship, and thereupon the owners or charterers thereof, of their agents, shall forthwith appoint a master or mate, or other officer as the case may be, to be approved by the emigration officer in the place of the one so discharged, and removed as aforesaid.
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IX.-In any of the following cases, namely
1st. If it shall appear to the satisfaction of the Governor in Council at any time before the departure of a Chinese passenger ship that the particulars furnished in relation thereto under Section IV. ate untrue, or that any condition of the said licence has been violated;
2nd. If any Chinese passenger ship shall fail to clear out and proceed to sea, within the period specified in the license granted under this Ordinance, or within such extended period as aforesaid;
3rd. If the owners or charterers of a Chinese passenger ship shall fail forthwith to appoint a master, mate or other officer to be approved as aforesaid, in the place of any master, mate or other officer discharged under Section VII.;
It shall be lawful for the Governor in Council to revoke the license granted under
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