3
216
different from that provided for in the Imperial Act.
On referring to the date of the Ordinance, which passed the 3rd of March 1855, it will be observed that -5467 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1854 advantage could not be taken as that Act did not come into force until 14 May 1855.
547
I am glad to observe that the objections of the Committee of Trade were made. Subject to the existence of special circumstances justifying, in this instance, the departure of the Colonial Legislature from the Imperial policy; for it can only be owing to extremely special circumstances, & to prevent abuses which might lead to dangerous consequences, that this Ordinance was enacted. The Colony of Hongkong, with a population exceeding at the present time 60,000, hardly contains Chinese who can legally be called British subjects, for it has not been deemed advisable to naturalize the Chinese here, & the recent settlement of the colony prevents the possibility of their having become Subjects by birth. The great proportion of the respectable part of this population have, however, constituted themselves bona fide British Subjects, by becoming Crown Tenants of Leaseholds for long terms of years (a tenure of which an alien is incapable) & by permanent settlement have shown the clearest intention of perfecting themselves, in the persons of their descendants, British subjects secundum leges as well de facto. I therefore, as law adviser to the Crown, deemed it my duty to
...
Climer ...
M
hee
Old
3
216
different from that provided for in the Imperial Act.
On referring to the date of the Ordinance, which passed the 3 st of March 1855, it will be observed that
-5467 of the Merchant Shipping Wct 1854 advantage could not be takons as that let did not enne into force until 14 May 1885.
of Jee: 547
come
I am glad to observe that the objections of the Committee of Trade me made. Subject to the existence of special circumstances justifying, in this instorms, the defeature of the Colonial Legidature prove the Sunfurial policy; for it can only aving to extremely special ensumstances, & to prevent abuses which might lead to dangerous -quenced, What this Ordinance was enacted. The Colony of Houghing, with a
Cous-
M
hee
Climer pissenlation exceeding at the
present time 60,000, hardly contains
Chinese who can
10
legally be called. British subjects, for it how not beem deemed advisable to paturalize the Chinese here, & the recent settlement of the colony prevents the possibility, their having become Subjects by birth. The great proportion of the respectable. part of this population have, however, Constituted themselves bona fide British Subjects, by beerning Coman Tenants of Leaveholds for long terms of years! (a tenure e of which an alien te incapate & by permanent settlement have taneed the clearest intention of perfecting them= - selves, in the persons of their deseen doute, British subjects seeundum leges as well de facts. I therefore, as law adviser to the broom, deconed it my duty to
Old
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