94
replied by forwarding a copy of the European Vagrancy Act of 1894.
No reply has been received from the British Consul at San Francisco. The draft bill hereto annexed has been drawn up on the lines of the India Act. Of the necessity of such a measure, there can be no doubt.
On this point, I believe no report is required from me, but I may mention that large ships coming here with coal or kerosine oil invariably pay off at once, if there is no prospect of freight or charter, and lie in the harbour for several months. Again, persons who have failed to find employment in any Chinese port or post, or even at Manila, constantly come next to Hongkong, either by design or by charitable persons, so that Hongkong may be said to be the Poor House of other neighbouring ports. The object, therefore, of this Ordinance is: -
1. To deal with the vagrants in the Colony.
2. To prevent the landing in this Colony of persons destitute or likely to become a burden.
3. To prevent the indiscriminate discharge of seamen by making the owner or agent liable for their removal from the Colony.
4. To keep down as far as possible the number of destitutes by rendering the master of the vessel from which the destitute has been landed, or the person or company to whom the destitute had come to Hongkong, liable for all the costs of his removal from the Colony.
Secs. 2 to 20 deal with vagrants in the Colony.
Sec. 2 defines the word "vagrant" to mean any person, other than a Chinese, found asking for alms, or without any employment or means of subsistence. Any Police Officer may require...
94
replied by forwarding a copy of the European Vagrancy Act of 1894.
No reply has been received from the British Consul at San Franciscs. The draft bill hereto annexed has been
drawn up
on
the leices of the India Act, Of the exccesity of such a
there can be no doubt.
a mature
On this point I believe no report is
use,
is
immediate ~
required from but I may mention that large ships coming here with coal or korosine oil invariably pay off at once, if there prospect of freight or charter, and lie in the harbour for several months. Again persons who have failed to find
Chinese port or
post or even e here,
or ara
employment in any at Manila constantly come xeut to Hongkong either by the Consul or
come
charitable persons, so
lina and of
that Hongkong
be said to be the Boor House of other neighbouring pork. The object therefore of this
Ordinance
2
Ordinance is: -
1. To deal with the vagrants
the Colony
in
in
20 To prevent the landing in this
Colory of persons destitute or likely to become
20.
30%
3. To prevent the endure discharge of
seauen
for
owner or
owne
agent liable
and
by making the their resnoval from the Calory ; a 44. To keep down as far as possible the unmber of destitutes by rendering the - caster of the vessel from which the destitute has been lauded, or the person
or company to serve whome the destitute had come to Houghing, liable for all the costs of his rencoval from the Colony. Dec. 2 to 20 deal with vagrants.
the Colony.
Sec. 2 defires the word vagrant &
Meau
to
any person other than a Chines found acking for aleus, or without any employment or means of subsistiron
Any Police Office may require
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