CO129-250 - Acting Governor Barker - 1891 [6-8] — Page 55

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

Assuming it not to have been leased, no marriage celebrated there can be questioned unless both parties to the marriage could be shown and proved to have married there with knowledge of the fact that it was an unlicensed place. No such knowledge existed; no one ever suspected even that it was not licensed, not even the Registrar of Marriages, whose special business it was to publish the Notification in the Gazette.

To attempt legislation on the subject would only be to excite suspicion that doubt now exists. In conclusion, permit me to say that I cannot accept Lord Knutsford's reply as final or conclusive. It shows convincingly that the true bearings of the question are not yet understood.

I must beg of you to forward this letter and request a reconsideration, encouraged by what has recently been done in Malta and Mauritius to meet the reasonable claims of the Catholic Church, for a repeal of the present ill-considered law and for the promulgation here of the laws in force in such important possessions as the Straits Settlements and India, which, while making proper provision for civil marriages, have left the marriages of Christians to the discipline and control of the Church.

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Marriages in the Church of the Immaculate Conceptions are considered, and it will be safest to consider them duly licensed by the church authorities. The date of its erection was noted, but the Notification in the Gazette was not published. Assuming it not to have been leased, no marriage celebrated there can be questioned unless both parties to the marriage could be shown and proved to have married there with knowledge of the fact that it was an unlicensed place. No such knowledge existed; no one ever suspected even that it was not licensed, not even the Registrar of Marriages, whose special business it was to publish the Notification in the Gazette. To attempt legislation on the subject would only be to excite suspicion that doubt now exists. In conclusion, permit me to say that I cannot accept Lord Knutsford's reply as final or conclusive. It shows convincingly that the true bearings of the question are not yet understood. I must beg of you to forward this letter and request a reconsideration, encouraged by what has recently been done in Malta and Mauritius to meet the reasonable claims of the Catholic Church, for a repeal of the present ill-considered law and for the promulgation here of the laws in force in such important possessions as the Straits Settlements and India, which, while making proper provision for civil marriages, have left the marriages of Christians to the discipline and control of the Church.

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بانها مرة لة marriages in the chuch of the Immaculate Conceptions fconsider and it will se safest to consider Licensed by the the church de duly wuch brew the date of its erection, only the Notification in Gazette was not published. the Gazette, Assuming it not to have been leased, nom in if cam be marriage celebrated nulled of. questioned unless both the parties to the marriage could be shown. and proved to have married there with knowledge of the fact that 1. unlicensed place. No such knowledge existed ini ene ange erce. Ao ever suspected even that it was not licensed, not ever the Ingistar of Marriages whose ~ special business it was so publish the Actification in the Gazette. To attempt legislation. on the subject would only be to excite suspicion 53 suspicion that doubt now exist. novexist. In conclusion will you permit to say that I cannot accept Lord Knutsford's reply as firials or conclusion. It shows convincingly that the true bearings of the question are not yet by kein, and understood I must beg of you to forward this letter 10 kini request a couraged by what has recently been done in Malta and Mauritius to meet the reasonable claines of the Catholic Church, for a repeal of the present ill considered law and for the marriage promulgation here of the laws in orce in such important possessions as the Straits Settluruh and India, which whilen making profor provision for civil massinge haves marriages of Christians to the descipline and control of the , >

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بانها مرة لة

marriages in the chuch of the

Immaculate Conceptions fconsider

and it will se safest to consider

Licensed by the

the church de

duly

wuch brew the date of its

erection, only the Notification in

Gazette was not published.

the Gazette,

Assuming it not to have been

leased, nom

in if cam

marriage

celebrated

nulled of.

questioned unless both the parties

to the

marriage

could be shown.

and proved to have married there with knowledge of the

fact that

unlicensed place. No

such knowledge existed ini

ene

ange

erce.

Ao ever suspected even that it

was not licensed, not ever the

Ingistar of Marriages whose ~

special business it was so publish the Actification in the Gazette. To attempt legislation. on the subject would

only

be to excite

suspicion

suspicion that doubt now exist. novexist. In conclusion will you

permit to

say

that I cannot accept

Lord Knutsford's reply as

firials

or conclusion. It shows convincingly that the true bearings of the

question are not yet

by kein, and

understood

I must beg of you

to forward this letter 10 kini

request a

couraged by what has recently been done in

Malta and Mauritius to meet

the reasonable claines of the Catholic Church, for a repeal of the present ill considered

law and for the

marriage

promulgation here of the laws in

orce in such important possessions as the Straits Settluruh and India, which whilen

making

profor provision for civil massinge haves marriages of Christians to the descipline and control of the

CO129-250 - Acting Governor Barker - 1891 [6-8] — Page 55

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