1841-1886
OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
305
23
by finding it safe to declare, under proper sanction, and with the co-operation of the Chinese Government, that all native craft, unless furnished with special authority from Government, which may be found armed within certain limits, that might afterwards be from time to time extended, shall be liable to seizure, and all on board liable to punishment. I hope soon to bring this matter once more before Her Majesty's Government, with a view to combined action being at last taken, for I see no reason to suppose that the difficulties which may at first embarrass the question will not disappear when fairly grappled with. Many will no doubt be then forced to admit much of the supposed difficulties to have been imaginary, whilst it is certain that whatever portion of them is real will not be overcome by inaction.
30. Reverting now to the action of this Government, I would observe, that although the present diminution in piratical outrages is in part due to the vigilance of the police, and the admirable energy of Commodore Jones, there is no doubt that it has been mainly effected by the legislation of last year, through Ordinances Nos. 6 and 7, by the joint operation of which a thorough knowledge of all Chinese residents here and of all junks visiting this harbour was acquired. In reference to native vessels it was insisted that all should take out licences, if they wished to dispense with the system of passes and permits devised for less frequent visitors, the condition of those licences being, the finding of good security for the legal proceedings of the vessels for which they might be granted.
31. Without encumbering this Report with the numerous details whereby this system was carried out, including a large increase to the harbour master's staff, and the establishment of inspectors and boats at all the different outports, it may suffice to state that the system has been eminently successful, and that I can give the name of every junk and particulars of her armament, cargo, master, and destination that has visited this Island since the first of last January.
32. As no attempt had ever previously been made to ascertain the above particulars about the native craft which frequent the waters of this Colony, and as the reason given was the apparent impossibility of success, this result, contrary to the many opinions against it, is the more gratifying. I may add, that, notwithstanding the novelty of the experiment, there has not been found as yet the least occasion for making any alteration in the Ordinance, a result wholly unexpected by myself.
33. I here annex the last weekly return received yesterday from the Harbour Master, and your Grace will thence perceive that since the beginning of the year no less than 2,356 licences of all sorts have been granted, whilst the total number of documents, including passes, special permits, &c., issued from the harbour department, has amounted to nearly 30,000, and the receipts to over $20,180 a sum which suffices to meet the increased expenditure necessary for carrying out the details of the Ordinance.
RETURN of LICENCES, &c. issued under Harbour and Consts Ordinance.
Date 1867 Junk Licences Fishing Licences Clearances Anchorage Special Passes Permits Remarks Annual Monthly Annual Monthly Day Night Total previous Return 309 92 1,090 531 8,373 9,281 7,852 145 October 21 283 43 35 1 39 22 39 46 12 38 6 47 ** 20 P ** * 31 2-1 Total 2 23 267 243 * == 88958 38 38 34 37 35 1 50 43 62 Sunday 254 Total receipts paid into Treasury to 25th inst. $20,180 Grand total 311 92 1,113 531 8,640 9,567 8,106 146 Total documents issued, 29,715.Hong Kong, 28th October 1867.
(Signed)
H. G. THOMSETT,
Harbour Master, &c.
1841-1886
OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
•
305
23
by finding it safe to declare, under proper sanction, and with the co-operation of the Chinese Government, that all native craft, unless furnished with special authority from Government, which may be found armed within certain limits, that might afterwards be from time to time extended, shall be liable to seizure, and all on board liable to punishment. I hope soon to bring this matter once more before Her Majesty's Govern- ment, with a view to combined action being at last taken, for I see no reason to suppose that the difficulties which may at first embarrass the question will not disappear when fairly grappled with. Many will no doubt be then forced to admit much of the supposed difficulties to have been imaginary, whilst it is certain that whatever portion of them is real will not be overcome by inaction.
30. Reverting now to the action of this Government, I would observe, that although the present diminution in piratical outrages is in part due to the vigilance of the police, and the admirable energy of Commodore Jones, there is no doubt that it has been mainly effected by the legislation of last year, through Ordinances Nos. 6 and 7, by the joint operation of which a thorough knowledge of all Chinese residents here and of all junks visiting this harbour was acquired. In reference to native vessels it was insisted that all should take out licences, if they wished to dispense with the system of passes and permits devised for less frequent visitors, the condition of those licences being, the finding of good security for the legal proceedings of the vessels for which they might be granted.
31. Without encumbering this Report with the numerous details whereby this system was carried out, including a large increase to the harbour master's staff, and the establish- ment of inspectors and boats at all the different outports, it may suffice to state that the system has been eminently successful, and that I can give the name of every junk and particulars of her armament, cargo, master, and destination that has visited this Island since the first of last January.
32. As no attempt had ever previously been made to ascertain the above particulars about the native craft which frequent the waters of this Colony, and as the reason given was the apparent impossibility of success, this result, contrary to the many opinions against it, is the more. gratifying. I may add, that, notwithstanding the novelty of the experiment, there has not been found as yet the least occasion for making any altera- tion in the Ordinance, a result wholly unexpected by myself.
33. I here annex the last weekly return received yesterday from the Harbour Master, and your Grace will thence perceive that since the beginning of the year no less than 2,356 licences of all sorts have been granted, whilst the total number of documents, includ- ing passes, special permits, &c., issued from the harbour department, has amounted to nearly 30,000, and the receipts to over $20,180 a sum which suffices to meet the increased expenditure necessary for carrying out the details of the Ordinance.
RETURN of LICENCES, &c. issued under Harbour and Consts Ordinance.
Juuk Licences.
Fishing Iâcences.
Clearances.
Date 1867.
Anchorage Special Passes. Permits.
Remarks.
Annual. Monthly. Annual. Monthly.
Day. Night.
Total pro- vious Re-
turn
309
92 1,090
531 8,373 9,281 7,852 145
October 21
翼事
**
2834335
1
39
22
39
46
12
38
6
47
**
20
P
**
*
31
2-1
Total
2
23
267
243
* == 88958
38
38
34
37
35
1
50
43
62
嘻嘻
46
41
B
19
Sunday.
254
Total receipts paid into Treasury to 25th iust. $20, 180.
Grand total
311
92 1,113
531 8,640 9,567 8,106
146
Total documents issued, 29,715.
Hong Kong, 28th October 1867.
(Signed)
H. G. THOMSETT,
Ilarbour Mastor, &c.
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