!
Crown without authority of Parliament to clothe these subsidized vessels with the immunities of Foreign Ships-of-war so as to deprive British subjects of their right to proceed against them for the enforcement of their legal rights. That decision has naturally added to the difficulty of the situation, and a voluminous correspon. dence has taken place between the British and French Governments arising out of the conflicts which have occurred at. Hongkong, Singapore and Ceylon between the judicial, authorities and the Messageries Maritimes. Indeed Her Majesty's Government would have been compelled to determine the Postal Convention with France by notice under Art. 37 were it not that the more receut instructions which appear to have been given to the Commanders of the French Postal steamers have prevented a renewal of the complaints of the Colonial Governments.
In view of the decision of the Courts in this Country in the case of the Parlement Be'ge it is clear that Her Majesty's Government are unable to secure to Postal vessels that complete immunity from the process of the local Courts which in the privilege of Ships-of-war, but if the Imperial Government are prepared to cause instructions to be issued to the Imperial Consular Officers and to the Com- manders of the North German Lloyd's steamers and to the Agents of the Company in all British ports of call to give all necessary facilities to the local authorities in relation to Customs Regulations and to judicial process and not to claim to exercise the privilege in question to the detriment of publie justies or of public rights, it is unlikely that any practical difficulties will arise.
Jor Majesty's Government are therefore prepared on that understanding to siguity to the Governors of the Colonies at which the steamera of the North German Lloyds are intended to touch that the line is subsidized by the Imperial Govern- ment for Fosial purposes and that it is the wish of Her Majesty's Government that the privileges mentioned in Art. V of the Postal Convention with France September 24th, 1856, should be extended to its vessels a long as the French Convention shall remain in foros.
It is right however to add that both the French and Belgian Conventions may be determined at any time owing to the difficulties which I have pointed out and to the fact that as the British Mail steamers on the lines to India, China aud Australia only touch at British ports they practically derive no benefit from the Article in question, while the other provisions of the Conventions have for the most part been abrugated by the Postal Unina Treaty of Berns of October 8th, 1874, and by the Convention of Paris (the Universal Postal Union of Jane 1st, 1878.
(Signed)
His Excellency COUNT HATZEELUT,
L8
&c., &o.,
&e.
ROSEBERY.
[31st August, 1889.]
APPENDIX IV.
French Mail Steamers.
No. 18 or 1888.
An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice and consent of
BR
the Legislative Council thereof, entitled The French Mail Steamers Ordinance continuation Ordinance, 1888.
G. WILLIAM DES VIBUX,
it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:
1. Ordinance 6 of 1880, entitled An Ordinance to make temporary pronision for securing the status of French Mail Steamers within the Ports of the Culony of Hong- kong, shall continue in tores until the 1st day of November, 1869, inelusive.
Passed the Legislative Council of Hongkong, this 28th day of August, 1888,
ABATROON SETH,
Clerk of Councils. Assented to by His Excellency the Governor, the 31st day of August, 1898.
Colonial Secretary.
German Mail Steamers.
No. 19 OF 1898.
FREDERICH STEWART,
;
(Copy).
Ervolmure 2.
3
The Chairman Stougkong General Chamber of fourmerce to the Aonourable the Colonial Secretary.
Sir,
66
Stongkong Ferreral (hamber of Commerc Stougkong, wyth August, 1888.
The Chamber of Coun
C O. 22190
RECP
VIEW? 12 NOV 28
of Hongkong has always protected against the rights and privileges conferred by annual Ordinance on the French Mail Steamers
the
and
of
latterly those German Mail Steamers.
These Ordinances are,
as appears from the published Agenda,
to be introduced).
unto the Legislative Comcil again tomorrow to be recnacted
e Novible,
Frederick Stewart, CL.D,
Colonial Secretary
for.
An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice and consent
LS
RE
of the Legislative Council thereof, entitled The German Mail Steamers Ordi- nance continuatim Ordinance, 1988.
G. WILLIAM Des Vocx.
31st August, 1888,]
E it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice and sent of the
Engisiwićew-famteit-cheesinki; as followe
1. Ordinance 23 of 1888, entitled An Ordinance to make temporary pvormón"
for securing the status of German Mail Steamers with in the Ports of the Colony of
Hongkong, shall continue in force until the 1st day of November, 1889, inclusive.
Passed the Legislative Council of Hongkong, this 31at day of August, 1859.
ARATHOON SETI,
Clerk of Councils. Assented to by His Excellency the Governor, the 31st day of August, 1888.
FREDERICK STEWART,
Colonial Secretary.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.