CO129-284 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [7-8] — Page 211

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The suggestion of the Chamber of Shipping en-

closed in the Despatch of the Secretary of State, that the

Hong-Kong Authorities should meet the difficulty by follow-

ing the practice of the United States and preventing any pas-

senger from landing who has not a certain sum of money which

is thought sufficient, entirely ignores the fact that the Uni-

ted States has an elaborate Customs Staff, while Hong-Kong is

a free port and passengers can be and often are landed here

before the ship has been visited by any Colonial Authority.

The Shipping Community, here, would probably con-

sider the introduction of the United States system into Hong-

Kong with its attendant delay in the landing of passengers

as more objectionable than the present law. However, in defe-

rence to the suggestion of the Secretary of State, I propose

omitting the words or becomes so within six months" in Sec-

tion 22 of Ordinance No.25 of 1897,

I annex draft of amending Ordinance according-

ly.

(Sa.) W.MEIGH GOODMAN,

Attorney General.

14th. July, 1898.