CO129-323 - Acting Governor May Governor Nathan - 1904 [6-7] — Page 68

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COPY.

No. 2.

A C. O. 24851 Pref Res 14 JUL 04.

18, Bank Buildings, Hongkong, 16th October, 1903.

Dear Mr. Attorney,

I have submitted "The Undesirable Persons Introduction Bill", as revised by the Law Committee to date, for the consideration of the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, and their arguments have thoroughly convinced me that this Bill, although it may seem in the abstract to be a desirable one, is absolutely unworkable in practice.

To begin with, I would mention that 2,000,000 passengers are computed to travel by steamer between Hongkong and Canton (altogether apart from the large junk traffic) in the course of a year. These steamers have never carried doctors, and it is manifestly impossible for either the "Owner, Charterer, Agent, Consignee or Master" to examine each passenger shipping or arriving by a Canton steamer and to undertake to say whether or not they are "lunatic, idiotic or imbecile or blind or suffering from leprosy or other incurable disease".

Presumably the Government have in view the appointment of qualified officers to board vessels as they arrive, examine every passenger, keep a record of same, and, when necessary, to order passengers to be carried back to Canton and to issue authority to the "Owner, Charterer, Agent, Consignee or Master" to carry out their decision. Otherwise, what power is to be placed in the hands of the "Owner, Charterer, Agent, Consignee or Master" to enable them to carry out the terms of the Bill when undoubted cases come under their observation?

The Honourable
The Attorney General.

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COPY. No. 2. A C. O. 24851 Pref Res 14 JUL 04. 18, Bank Buildings, Hongkong, 16th October, 1903. Dear Mr. Attorney, I have submitted "The Undesirable Persons Introduction Bill", as revised by the Law Committee to date, for the consideration of the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, and their arguments have thoroughly convinced me that this Bill, although it may seem in the abstract to be a desirable one, is absolutely unworkable in practice. To begin with, I would mention that 2,000,000 passengers are computed to travel by steamer between Hongkong and Canton (altogether apart from the large junk traffic) in the course of a year. These steamers have never carried doctors, and it is manifestly impossible for either the "Owner, Charterer, Agent, Consignee or Master" to examine each passenger shipping or arriving by a Canton steamer and to undertake to say whether or not they are "lunatic, idiotic or imbecile or blind or suffering from leprosy or other incurable disease". Presumably the Government have in view the appointment of qualified officers to board vessels as they arrive, examine every passenger, keep a record of same, and, when necessary, to order passengers to be carried back to Canton and to issue authority to the "Owner, Charterer, Agent, Consignee or Master" to carry out their decision. Otherwise, what power is to be placed in the hands of the "Owner, Charterer, Agent, Consignee or Master" to enable them to carry out the terms of the Bill when undoubted cases come under their observation? The HonourableThe Attorney General.
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お j. COPY. No. 2. A C. O. 24851 Pref Res 14 JUL 041. 18, Bank Buildings, Hongkong, 16th. October, 1903. 67 Dear Mr. Attorney, 1 have submitted "The Undesirable Persons Introduction Bill", as revised by the Law Committee to date, for the consideration of the Committee of the Chamber of Com- merce, and their arguments have thoroughly convinced me that this Bill, although it may seen in the abstract to be a desir- able one, is absolutely unworkable in practice. To begin with, I would mention that 2,000,000 passengers are computed to travel by Steamer between Hongkong and Canton (altogether apart from the large junk traf- fic) in the course of a year. These steamers have never carried doctors, and it is manifestly impossible for either the "Owner, Charter- er Agent, Consignee or Master" to examine each passenger • shipping or arriving by a Canton steamer and to undertake to say whether or not they are "lunatic, idiotic or imbecile .or blind or suffering from leprosy or other incurable disease*. Presumably the Government have in view the appointment of qualified officers to board vessels as they arrive, examine every passenger, keep a record of same, and, when necessary to order passengers to be carried back to Can- :ton to issue authority to the Owner, Charterer, Agent, Con- signee or Master" to carry out their decision. Otherwise what power is to be placed in the hands of the "Owner, Charterer, Agent, Consignee or Master" to enable them to carry out the terms of the Bill when undoubted cases come under their observa- The Honourable →tion ? To The Attorney General. :
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j.

COPY.

No. 2.

A

C. O.

24851

Pref

Res 14 JUL 041.

18, Bank Buildings,

Hongkong, 16th. October, 1903.

67

Dear Mr. Attorney,

1 have submitted "The Undesirable Persons Introduction Bill", as revised by the Law Committee to date, for the consideration of the Committee of the Chamber of Com- merce, and their arguments have thoroughly convinced me that

this Bill, although it may seen in the abstract to be a desir-

able one, is absolutely unworkable in practice.

To begin with, I would mention that

2,000,000 passengers are computed to travel by Steamer between

Hongkong and Canton (altogether apart from the large junk traf-

fic) in the course of a year.

These steamers have never carried doctors,

and it is manifestly impossible for either the "Owner, Charter-

er Agent, Consignee or Master" to examine each passenger

•

shipping or arriving by a Canton steamer and to undertake to

say whether or not they are "lunatic, idiotic or imbecile .or

blind or suffering from leprosy or other incurable disease*.

Presumably the Government have in view

the appointment of qualified officers to board vessels as they

arrive, examine every passenger, keep a record of same, and,

when necessary to order passengers to be carried back to Can-

:ton to issue authority to the Owner, Charterer, Agent, Con-

signee or Master" to carry out their decision. Otherwise what

power is to be placed in the hands of the "Owner, Charterer,

Agent, Consignee or Master" to enable them to carry out the

terms of the Bill when undoubted cases come under their observa-

The Honourable

→tion ?

To

The Attorney General.

:

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