CO885-(11-13) — Page 155

9297.

MY LORD,

No. 849. (Hong KoG.)

LAW OFFICERS to FOREIGN OFFICE.

We are honoured with your Lordship's commands signified in Mr. Hammond's

Temple, August 29, 1873. letter of the 20th instant, stating that he was directed by your Lordship to transmit to us the accompanying letter from the Colonial Office, with a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong including a draft ordinance of the Legislature of that Colony to amend the Emigration Ordinance of 1870, of which a copy was enclosed, and he (Mr. Hammond) was to request us to take the papers into consideration and favour your Lordship with any observations we might have to offer thereupon.

In obedience to your Lordship's commands we have the honour to

Report

That we are of opinion the draft ordinance may be confirmed, since it appears that the Governor of Hong Kong has the power under the second section of the Chinese Passengers Act, 1855, to make regulations respecting British ships carrying from any port in China or within 100 miles of the coast thereof more than 20 passengers being natives of Asia, and if the Governor of Hong Kong may make regulations, he may legally as one of such regulations impose the obligation of requiring a license.

At the same time we would suggest to your Lordship that in communicating with Earl Kimberley your Lordship might properly point out that the mode adopted for imposing this new obligation, viz., by substituting one definition for, or rather in addition to, another, is inconvenient, and that the introduction of a consolidated ordinance as suggested by Sir A. Kennedy is desirable.

We are, &c. (Signed)

&c.

The Earl Granville, K.G.,

&c. &c.

J. D. COLERIDGE. G. JESSEL.

U 16978.---845. 25.-5/86.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

། ། ། ། ། C.O. 885

11 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-—-NOT TO