Page 73
No.3.
To His Excellency
COLONIAL
SECRETARY'S
OFFICE
HONGKONG
Hongkong, 30th December, 1903.
F. H. MAY, C.M.G.
THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT,
HONGKONG.
The Humble Petition of the Undersigned representatives of the various Shipping Companies in Hongkong.
Respectfully sheweth that the proposed Bill now before the Legislative Council entitled “An Ordinance to provide for the Recovery of Charges incurred by the Colony on account of certain undesirable persons introduced into the Colony" being in our opinion calculated to inflict undue hardship on the Trade of the Colony, it is desirable in the interests of all those engaged in trade here that it be withdrawn.
In support of our petition we beg to lay before Your Excellency the following facts, which we trust will, on full consideration, convince Your Excellency that while the proposed legislation is not really necessary, it will, if brought into effect, prove a very real hardship—we may even assert an injustice—on the shipping engaged in trade with this Colony.
We gladly recognise that the Government has during the discussion in Council on the proposed Bill, shown readiness to consider the objections raised by the Unofficial Members not only in modifying the original conditions of the Bill, but also in postponing a final decision in order to allow the Chamber of Commerce, through their representative, to fully state their objections to the Bill.
Your Petitioners are in complete accord with the views of the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce in opposing the proposed legislation and now, therefore, wish to support that Committee by setting forth their reasons for opposing the Bill.
In approaching Your Excellency on the subject Your Petitioners will take as their text the draft of the proposed Bill with amendments as left in Committee at the last meeting of the Legislative Council held on the 23rd instant, a copy of the Bill being attached hereto.
Your Petitioners would beg to direct attention to the fact that before a lunatic, idiotic or imbecile person can be landed from a vessel the consent of a certain Government Official must be obtained.
There is nothing to show that this official is obliged to give permission for the person in question to be landed, and it would appear, therefore, that should permission be withheld, the master of a vessel may be compelled to keep the person in question in
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Red 14 JUL 041
No.3.
To His Excellency
COLONIAL
TARY'S
SECRET
7 JAN D
HONGKONG
OFFI
Hongkong, 30th December, 1903.
F. H. MAY, C.M.G.
THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT,
HONGKONG.
The Bumble Petition of the Undersigned represent. atives of the varions Shipping Companies in Hougkong.
Respectfully shewrth that the proposed Bill now before the Legislative Council entitled “An Ordinance to provide for the Recovery of Charges incurred by the Colony on account of certain undesirable persons introdneed into the Colony" being in our opinion calculated to inflict undue hardship on the Trade of the Colony, it is desirable in the interests of all those engaged in trade here that it be withdrawn.
In support of our petition we beg to lay before Your Excellency the following facts, which we trust will, ou full consideration, convince Your Excellency that while the proposed legislation is not really necessary, it will, if brought into effect, prove a very real hardship-we may even assert an injustice-on the shipping engaged in trade with this Colony.
We gladly recognise that the Government has during the discussion in Council on the proposed Bill, shown readiness to consider the objections raised by the Unofficial Members not only in modifying the original conditions of the Bill, but also in postponing a final decision in order to allow the Chamber of Commerce, through their representative, to fully state their objections to the Bill.
Your Petitioners are in complete accord with the views of the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce in opposing the proposed legislation and now, therefore, wish to support that Committee by setting forth their reasons for opposing the Bill.
In approaching Your Excellency on the subject Your Petitioners will take as their text the draft of the proposed Bill with amendments as left in Committee at the last meeting of the Legislative Council held on the 23rd instant, a copy of the Bill being attached hereto.
Your Petitioners would beg to direct attention to the fact that before a lunatic, idiotic or imbecile person can be landed from a vessel the consent of a certain Government Official must be obtained.
There is nothing to show that this official is obliged to give permission for the person in question to be landed, and it would appear, therefore, that should permission be withheld, the master of a vessel may be compelled to keep the person in question in
73
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