32
4. I should desire that this may be clear to Bishop Raimondi, and I am not without hope, therefore, that you may be successful in overcoming his objections to a measure which he can hardly fad to admit, on further rollection, interferes in no way with the free exercise of any religion, while it fulfils the obligations of Civil Government in respect to the registration of marriage by adopting the system which the experience of the principal States of Europe has shown to be best calculated to secure the object in view.
5. I notice that Bishop Raimondi subscribes himself "Vicar Apostolic of Hong kong This is a title which, as you are aware, cannot be conceded to him by Her Majesty's Government, and which you will no doubt avoid using in your
fficial cominunications with him.
1 have, &c. Signed)
CARNARVON
33
admirably in Europe could not be enforced in Hong Kong with equal satisfaction. In Ceylon a similar marriage law has been enforced, notwithstanding the opposition of the Roman Catholic priests of the place, and after ten years the result was so unsatisfactory that his Excellency the Governor of Ceylon considered it necessary to strongly recommend a Petition to the Home Government for changing the law.
His Lordship is not opposed to a complete registration of marriages, but humbly recommends (as he did before to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies) that it be optional to register the marriages either before or after the performance of the religious ceremony, as it is in Italy.
With this alteration it would be in the power of the Roman Catholic clergy to co-operate to the complete registration of marriages.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
The Hon. J. Gardiner Austin, Colonial Secretary.
G. BURGHIGNOLI, Missionary Apostolic.
PUPL RECORD OFFICE
3། 4]
No. 12.
March 1)
Governor Sir A. E. Kennedy, K.C M.6., C.B., to the Earl of Carnarvon.—(Received
No 17. My Lord,
Government House, Hong Kong, January 24, 1876.
IN reference to your Lordship's despatch No. 98 of the 6th November, 1875,* the contents of which I communicated to Bishop Raimondi, I have now the honour to forward you a copy of a reply thereto which has been received from the Right Reverend Bishop.
my
in It is not necessary for me to offer any comments on this letter, as, opinion, after your Lordship's exhaustive despatches on the subject, the discussion is virtually closed; and I have informed Bishop Raimondi to this effect, and have intimated to him that Her Majesty's gracious confirmation having been given to the new Ordinance, it will be my duty to have it enforced so soon as it is formally proclaimed.
I may add that I am only waiting to proclaim it, until the forms and other preliminaries necessary to the working of the Ordinance are completed.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
A. E. KENNEDY.
(No. 25.) Sir,
No. 13.
The Earl of Carnarvon to Governor Sir A. E. Kennedy, K.C.M.G., C.B.
Downing Street, March 8, 1876.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 17 of the 24th of January last,* inclosing a copy of a further letter from Bishop Raimondi, on the recent Marriage Ordinance.
I concur in the reply which you made to this communication,
I have, &c.
(Signed)
CARNARVON.
Sir.
Inclosure in No. 12.
Roman Catholic Mission House, Hong Kong, January 17, 1876.
I AM directed by his Lordship Bishop Raimondi to apologize for not having been more prompt in giving a reply to your letter of the 29th December, 1875; he was away from Hong Kong for some days, which accounts for the delay.
His Lordship will feel deeply grateful to his Excellency the Governor, if he will kindly inform the Right Honourable the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, that his Lordship is fully prepared to co-operate with the Government in securing the due registration of marriages; and if he objects to the new Ordinance it is not to raise a wilful opposition to the Government, but merely and purely because the enactments contained in the law are at variance with Roman Catholic principles, Civil marriage, as expressed in the Ordinance, is condemned by the Roman Catholic clergy in England, France, Belgium, Italy; and in no part of the world could all the enactments contained in the Ordinance be complied with by the Roman Catholic clergy.
Ilis Lordship, speaking from his position and experience, humbly begs leave to assure the Government that there are cases in which it will be not only morally, but even physically, impossible to comply with the condition required by the new Ordinance. His Lordship could mention cases recently occurred in Belgium, wherein the Roman Catholic clergy could not comply with a similar law, and one long established. Such cases are few in Europe, and oftentimes pass unnoticed; while here there would be many cases of the kind, which would undoubtedly create painful sensation in the minds of the people, the place being so small.
His Lordship begs to add that the place and the condition of the people ought to be taken into consideration. It is known from experience that laws which work
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