CO129-389 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [3-4] — Page 54

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N° 84.

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Duplicate.

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8 ATR 12

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG, 8th. March, 1912.

Sir,

I have the honour to transmit draft of a Bill entitled "An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the Law relating to 'Chinese Passenger Ships' as defined by the Chinese Passengers Act, 1855, and concerning Asiatic nigrants generally". This Bill was read a first time in Legislative Council on the 7th. Karch and I enclose the report of the speech which I then made to the Council.

2.

Before proceeding with the further stages of

the Bill I have deemed it desirable to refer the draft for your consideration and pending your reply the second reading will be deferred.

3.

The Sections relating to the duties of the Harbour Master are collected together, and many of the old pro- -visions relating to sailing ships which are obsolete have been omitted. Certain duties of inspection on land are transferred to the Registrar-General's Department and the Harbour Master's duties are confined to the inspection of ships and of emigrants on board, and in connection with passages &c. Inspection of free passengers which has always been useless and ineffective is abolished.

4.

One of the more important changes introduced by the Ordinance is the inclusion of voyages although of less than

7 days' duration to certain places under the definition of a

RIGHT HONOURABLE

LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,

&C.,

&c.,

&c...

"Short