CO129-395 - Public Offices - 1912 — Page 518

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question the full measure of attention which it deserved,

and it was not witil I received the Judge's draft that I

realised the full force and import of the proposed loginlat-

101.

The objection to which I refer is that the azoposal

is not in keasing with the new spirit that animates China.

Twenty or thirty years ago we might have enacted mich

legislation without inourring eritiolam, but that day de

past.

As a matter of fant I believe there has been no such

legislation eines the Bigration Act of 1856 confarrod

PON BUS denn

See I *** 100352

Sa

7

upon the Hongkong Government the right of making certain

minor regulations for passenger shies.

Modern China,

with its trained lawyers on the look out for infringement

of its sovereign rights, will strongly rosent the apsiioa-

tion of colonial legislation to China, and may be expected

to take the Firat Osportunity that offere of testing its

velidity. As Mr. Bozie soints out, this is no the for

doubtful legislation, and the only safe couree la to

follow the example of other Powere, and deal with the

matter by Insorial legislation.

To this tho Chinese aro

mont