CO129-425 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [10-12] — Page 530

Report on an Ordinance intituled

An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the Law relating to "Chinese Passenger ships" as defined by the Chinese Passengers Act, 1855, and concerning Asiatic Emigrante

generally.

The approval of the Right Honourable the Secretary

of State for the Colonies of the introduction of this

Ordinance was conveyed in his despatch of the 15th July,

1915.

Section 46 of the Ordinance has been altered in

accordance with the directions in paragraph 2 of that

despatch.

In accordance with the directions in paragraph 3

of the despatch a copy of the bill was forwarded to Hie

Excellency the Governor of the Straite Settlements for

his observations, and a copy of his reply, with its

enclosure is attached. The remarks of the Protector

of Chinese were considered, but it was thought that they

did not call for any alteration of the bill,

With regard to the definitions of "Enigrant ship",

it was felt to be advisable to keep to the form of

definition which agreed with the Imperial Act, from

which to a certain extent the legislative power of this

Colony is derived in this subject, especially as the

matter did not seem to be of any importance to the

Straits Settlements. It will be noticed that the

Straits Settlements Ordinance is an immigration Ordi-

nance,

with regard to the question of the photographs of

female deck passengers, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs

was of opinion that it would not be worthwhile to take

power to require photographs and examination in the case

of female deck passengers by non-emigrant ships, and

he was of the opinion that the matter must always remain

for detective work here and at singapore.

522

As regards section 30, it can only be pointed out that

ships carrying Asiatic emigrants to the Straits Settlements

must comply with the stricter requirements of the immigration

law of that Colony.

and

slight changes have been made in sections 42 and 44,

certain obvious errors and misprints have been corrected in

the following places:-

Section 3;

Section 16:

Fourth schedule; regulations 6(2) and 15, and para-

graph (9) of the form attached to that schedile:

Fifth schedule, regulations 1 and 2(1): sixth schedule, regulation 4 (6)(a)

Apart from the alterations referred to above, the ordinano

was passed in the form approved by the Secretary of state.

The Ordinance of course will not come into operation

until His Majesty's confirmation of aame shall have been

proclaimed in Hongkong by His Excellency the Governor.

In my opinion this is an Ordinance to which His Excellency

the Governor may properly assent in the name of His Majesty

and on His behalf,

Attorney General,

8.12.15.