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matter of principles could have been settled. The Select Committee resolved not to alter the Bill, and to have it passed as it was, on the ground that the principle of the new Bill has been recognised in the so-called Catholic countries of France and Belgium, and that in Ceylon, where an Ordinance similar to this was in force since 1863, and no public complaint has been made as far as they have heard.
We think it is our duty to emphatically deny that the principle of the new Bill has been recognized by the Roman Catholic Bishops of France, Eelgium, and Ceylon, and to state that the Roman Catholic Church never ceased from protesting against the so-called organic articles in which the principle of the new Bill is expressed; and that no Roman Catholic Bishops, in any part of the world, com- prising Ceylon, could or has complied with the law in those cases which are at variance with the Roman Catholic principles with this difference, that in France, Belgium, and Ceylon, being large places, the contrast between the civil law and Roman Catholic principles can pass unnoticed, while in Hong Kong, being a small place, cannot take effect without leaving a great and painful impression on the community.
Touching only one of the main points, the civil marriage is condemned by the Roman Catholic Church, and we look upon it as a concubinage. Civil marriages could have been performed even before in Hong Kong at the Registry, but the law was not so barefaced as in the present Bill, where the Registrar is constituted High Priest, who warns the couple that there is no need of religious ceremony.
Till now we never spoke to our community on civil marriage as there was no necessity, but now, as soon as the new Bill shall come into force, we shall be bound to condemn publicly civil marriage, and the Catholic community will look upon the English Government as a promoter of concubinage.
On the next meeting of the Legislative Council the Honourable Chief Justice began to make some objections to the Bill which were rather substantial, but he was warned by the President, that had the Chief Justice proposed any substantial change, the Bill should be sent home another time, and the Bill had come from home already approved with instructions to have it passed.
We feel confident that if a fair discussion had been allowed, the matter would have been another way.
The press of Hong Kong did not allow the occasion to pass without crying victory against the Roman Catholics. The press being Protestant in Hong Kong, it is very difficult at home to have a true idea of Catholic matters here, which proves the necessity for a Catholic newspaper.
Notwithstanding, one of the papers regrets that the Catholic community should have been put to so much trouble, although it adds that the Council could not have acted otherwise, as the colonists must follow the special precedents.
We do not think that your Lordship intends enforcing a law in Hong Kong because it is good in England; on the contrary, your Lordship wishes that legislation should be adapted to the circumstances of [the] people, climate and place. Another paper acknowledges plainly that the principles of the new Bill is quite at variance with Roman Catholic doctrine, and is not surprised at our objections. However, he says that we cannot blame the Council for not adapting the Bill to Catholic principles, but the Bill being made for a large Catholic community, your Lordship will agree that it ought and could be adapted to the Catholic principle. The end of the Bill being registration, the marriages could be registered after their celebration without interfering with our principles; or at least by not making it obligatory to go to the Registrar before the marriage. Even supposing the case that the Bill could not content both Catholic and Protestant, would it be just to put to a great inconvenience the bulk of the Christian community, which is Catholic, to favour the few? The Government has respected the religious feeling of the few Mahommedans living at Hong Kong, and of the Pagan Chinese, who live disorderly and in bigamy, by not applying to them the law, why the Catholics could not be exempt and free to contract, as before, a contract which they consider valid only when elevated to the dignity of a Sacrament?
The course which the Government of Hong Kong pursued in having the Bill passed, clearly proved that it was convinced that the Bill was interfering with Roman Catholic principles, as the Bill was sent home before being discussed here, and in passing it paid not the least regard to our protest and objections. We are very sorry not to see, in the whole matter, that delicacy and regard to the free exercise of our Catholic religion, which we have always admired and esteemed in the Government of this Colony. Were your Lordship to enforce the Bill as it is, we fear the following might take place: as we must undergo all penalties rather than go against our conscience, the sensation caused by it in the Colony might be deep, and not in favour of the English Government.
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A great many of the Catholics might elude the law very easily by going to Macao to have their marriages celebrated according to the regulations of our Church, and the end of the law would be frustrated, Hong Kong being the centre and head-quarters of the Catholic missions. Through all China the interference of the English Government with our religious principles will be regretted, and felt in a very large circle.
A rupture might follow between the Civil Government and the Roman Catholic authorities, who for thirty-three years have worked in good harmony to the benefit of the Colony. Such will be the consequences, and we deem it our duty to inform your Lordship of the state of things.
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We declare that we are not against registration; on the contrary, we are ready and willing to help the Government in having marriages registered, provided it be not obligatory to go to the Registry before their celebration; but the minister should be requested to send a certificate of the register after the celebration of each marriage.
Hoping your Lordship will take into consideration our feeling,
We have, &c.
(Signed)
JOHN T. RAIMONDI, Bishop of Acanto, ̈
Vicar Apostolic of Hong Kong.
G. BURGHIGNOLI, Pro-Ficar Apostolic. Father B. VIGANO, Missionary Apostolic. Rev. P. V. LONGO, ditto.
Rev. A. TAGLIABNE, ditto.
Rev. J. LEANG, ditto.
Rev. W. J. LEANG, ditto.
Rev. W. J. CULLEN, Sub. ditto.
The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon,
&c.
&c.
&c.
Inclosure 2 in No. 5.
CENSUS of Hong Kong, including the Military and Naval Establishments, 1st December, 1972.
naval establishment
Population.
Total
Europeans and Americans, resident population British, military
•
Men.
1,054
Women. Boys.
Girls.
598
409
459
2,520
988
45
63
58
1,104
216
5
221
Europeans, police ..
126
8
1-
3
136
Europeans and Americans, mercantile shipping
the harbour
704
19
723
··
**
Europeans and Americans, temporary residents
prisoners
169
159
68
68
Total of Europeans and Americans
3,264
669
478
520
4,981
Goa, Manila, Indian, and others of mixed blood,
resident
Goa, Manila, Indian, and others of mixed blood,
crews of mercantile vessels in the harbour Indians, military
police
..
Goa, Manila, Indian, and others of mixed blood,
prisoners
·
:
.:::
74
14
:::
19
426
74
61
685
559
8
567
74
8
7
6
181
2
1
95 184
9
Total of Indians
1,249
92
82
67
| 1,490
Chinese in employ of Europeans, &c., resident .. in harbour..
5,113
736
917
870
6,442
517
12
629
"T
H
police
288
1
1
285
19
employed by military and naval estab-
lishments
489
489
•
Chinese residing in Victoria
50,898
14,870
4,001
6,827
75,584
19
residing in villages and Kowloong
6,868
2,828
1,689
947
11,672
6,397
2,980
2,472
1,701
13,600
3,060
1,698
1,094
852
6,699
853
11
-364
73,971
22,076
10,314
9,203
116,564
78,484
$3.887 10,874
9,790 121.05
Boat population in Victoria
11
Prisoners
other than in Victoria
Total of Chineso
Grand total
12
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