They cannot detain the passenger on board, under penalty of a civil action for false imprisonment.
There is no Custom house here, and what may be possible in other countries, with elaborate systems of examination, is not possible here, except at great expense.
It would appear as if the Government were attempting to saddle Owners of ships with expenses which responsible Governments assume themselves, that is to say the care of pauper lunatics, and persons suffering from incurable diseases.
Moreover what will be the result if Government introduce a system of examination of all passengers arriving in the Colony? It will not affect Europeans to any great extent, except inconvenience. But when we come to the Chinese it is quite a different matter. Steamers will be delayed, higher rates of passage money will have to be charged in consequence, leading to diminution in number of coolies arriving, in greater competition for labour already in the Colony and naturally a higher scale of wages.
Besides, the news will spread like wildfire amongst the Chinese, and many respectable and desirable people will be induced to stay away because of the examination, particularly if married and bringing their wives and families to Hongkong. And what is to be gained by the Bill? The saving of a few thousand dollars yearly! To save these few thousand dollars either an elaborate and expensive system has to be introduced by the Government, or the responsibility of carrying out the terms of the Bill is unjustly thrown on Owners of steamers, sailing vessels, junks, boats, &c., &c., at great inconvenience and expense to shipping.
And, whatever legislation is enacted to keep "undesirables" out by direct water route from Canton to Hongkong, the influx of these people into Hongkong will not be prevented, as they can come in overland, or be landed
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68
-tion? They cannot detain the passenger on board, under penalty
of a civil action for false imprisonment.
There is no Custom house here, and what may
be possible in other countries, with elaborate systems of exami- nation, is not possible here, except at great expense.
It would appear as if the Government were attempting to saddle Owners of ships with expenses which res- ponsible Governments assume themselves, that is to say the care of pauper lunatics, and persons suffering from incurable diseases.
Moreover what will be the result if Govern- ment introduce a system of examination of all passengers arriv- ing in the Colony? It will not affect Europeans to any great extent, except inconvenience. But when we come to the Chinese
it is quite a different matter. Steamers will be delayed, higher irates .of passage money will have to be charged in consequence,
leading to diminution in number of coolies arriving, in greater -competition for abour already in the Colony and naturally a
higher scale of wages. Besides, the news will spread like wild-
fire amongst the Chinese, and many respectable and desirable
people will be induced to stay away because of the examination,
particularly if married and bringing their wives and families to
Hongkong. And what is 'to be gained by the Bill ? The saving of
a few thousand dollars yearly ! To save these few thousand dol-
lars either an elaborate and expensive system has to be intro-
duced by the Government, or the responsibility of carrying out
the terms of the Bill is unjustly thrown on Owners of steamers,
sailing vessels, junks, boats, &c., &c., at great inconve-
nience and expense to shipping. And, whatever legislation is
enacted to keep:"undesirables" out by direct water route from
Canton to Hongkong, the influx of these people into Hongkong
will not be prevented, as they can come in overland, or be land- ·
-ed
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