CO129-066 - Public Offices - 1857 — Page 534

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533

How

Corn

Governor of Hong Kong was induced to submit to the Legislative Council "An Ordinance. " to establish a proper system of Registration "for Colonial vessels which was passed by that body on the third of March 1855- to will be remarked that the title of the Ordinance is Colonial not British besuls - its provisions are thirteen.- viz

Sect: 1. No British Vessel without either an

Imperial or Colonial register to use the

waters of this Colony

2 Declaration necessary for obtaining a

register. — If it is stated that the venel is intended to be employed solely in trade with China, a Colonial Register maybe granted as laid down in this Ordinance 3. Documents necessary previous to grant

of Colonial Register viz. Harbour masters Certificate, Declaration of Ownership, Bond of Owner and tive Secreties, binding each & " ever one of them under x penal sum of One thousand dollars to comply with

andall will the provisions of this ordinance and all the laws binding a British subject with regard to the trade with China.

14 Name of Colonial Registered Ship to be painter

in letters not less than 44 inches long both in Roman and Chinese characters upon some conspicuous part of her stem upon pain,

on

breach of this provision, in addition to any other pains penalties & forfeiture, of ce penalty not exceeding five Hundred Dollars.

cance

5 Production of Colonial Rejister to Harbour maste

every six months, unless satisfactory for such non-production be shown.

i Chinese Crown lessers entitle to help

Colonial Registers

7 Har sur maiters certificate specifying the

proper measurement,

measurement, that she has proper anchors, chains, sails, to aris that the master is a British subject

o a

person

conversant with the English Language

Fees payable

4 Change of

10

owner or marter to be endorsed

upon the Register

Duration of Register to be for one year & renewable

by endorsement on the same -

The Register to be

the

deposited one wosk before the expiration

year or if the vessel be at sea thin on her return to the waters of the Colony 11 Penalty for violation of ordinance 12 Application of Frees.

for Public Revenue

13 Registration of Boats not to be interfered with

This ordinance was elaborately discussed in the Legislative Council and with the full concurrence of the unofficial commercial members was finally passed on the 3rd March 1855 and published in the Government Gazette,

I

All sans passed by the Legislature of the Colonies come in force from the date of publication unless it be, by special clause, as is the case in a en done the few instances provided that they shall not come in force until Her Majerty's pleasure to know,

be All the acts of the Legislature are omitted to the Home Government for submission to Her Majesty and on receipt of Her Majesty's approval ordisapprovat the same is notified in the usual way to the inhabitants of the Colony; and the Ordinance remains in force or is cancelled, as the case may be In this instance the ordinance was submitted to Her Majesty's Government on the 10th of March 1865 Lord John Russell returned the same on the 22 no of June with the observations of the Lords of the Committe of Privy Council for Trade and a request for any observations which the Governor might make on the objections entertained by their Lordships to some of the provisions of the Ordinance To this the Governor replied on the 40+ September 1855 furnishing his reasons,

s for the necessity of Legislation on the subject

subject and transmitting the observations of the learned, and a ble, acting Attomer General répon the subject. That gentleman say

I am glad to observe that the objections

" of the Committee of Trade are made subject to the existence of special circumstances Justifying in this instance the departure of the Polonial Legislature from the Imperial Policy " for it was only owing to extremely special

" circumstances and to prevent abuses which might "lead to dangerous

"was ena

consequen asj

that thizerdinanx

acted", and aften explaining the necessity

he

for such an ordinance

Say

"It will be observed that the utmost care was taken not to interfere with any provision of the Imperial art touching long sea-going