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CHINESE PASSENGERS ACT.

241

Sixth.-Every such passage broker before he shall receive or take any money on account of any such passage or for the sale or letting of the whole or any part of the accommodation of any emigrant ship proceeding from Hongkong, shall produce to the emigration officer the certificate of the master or owner of the ship, in respect of which such passage shall or may have been taken, or the accommodation which shall have been so sold or let, to the effect that such ship has been chartered for the purpose of carrying emigrants, and that he, such passage broker, is authorised to receive payment for such passage, or for the sale or letting of the accommodation in such ship and such certificate shall be filed in the office of the emigration officer, and the contents thereof entered in a book to be kept by the emigration officer, for recording therein the contents of such certificates.

Seventh.-On every occasion of the delivery to any passenger of such contract ticket as aforesaid, the passage broker who shall have engaged to provide each passenger with a passage shall attend with him at the office of the emigration officer, in whose presence the contract ticket shall be delivered to such passenger, and who shall explain to him the true intent and meaning of such contract.

Eighth. No person shall fraudulently alter or cause to be altered, after it is once issued, or shall induce any person to part with or render useless or destroy any such contract ticket during the continuance of the contract which it is intended to evidence.

Ninth. No licenced passage broker shall, as agent for any person, whether a licensed broker or not, receive money for or on account of the passage of any passenger on board an emigrant ship, without having written authority to act as such agent, or on the demand of the emigration officer, refuse or fail to exhibit his licence and such. written authority: and no person whether as principal or agent shall by any fraud, or by false representation as to the size of the ship or otherwise, or by any false pretence whatsoever, induce any person to engage any passage as aforesaid.

Tenth. Any violations or disobediences of, or defaults in compliance with, the provisions of this Ordinance, shall be heard and determined summarily under Ordinance No. 10 of 1844; and on conviction of such offences, the respective offenders shall be sentenced to pay the several penalties, or in default of the payment thereof, to suffer the several fines or imprisonment respectively hereinafter specified :-

1st.-For every offence against section one, a fine not exceeding four hundred current dollars, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.

2nd.--For every offence against section five, a fine not exceeding four hundred

current dollars, or imprisonment for a term not exceed six months.

3rd. For every offence committed by a passage broker against section six or nine, a fine not exceeding one hundred current dollars, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three mouths.

4th. For every offence committed by a passage broker against section seven, a fine not exceeding one hundred current dollars, or imprisonment for a term not ex- ceeding three months.

5th.-For every offence against section eight, a fine not exceeding fifty current dollars, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two months.

Eleventh-For the purpose of this Ordinance the term emigrant ship shall mean every ship carrying more than twenty passengers being natives of China, and clearing out for a port or ports not in Chinese empire; the terui emigration officer shall include every person lawfully acting as emigration agent, or protector of emigrants in Hong- kong; and the term passenger shall include all passengers being natives of China.

An Ordinance for providing Hospital accommodation on board Chinese passenger ships, and for the Medical Inspection of the passengers and crews about to proceed to sea in such ship.

(26th December, 1859),

No. VI. of 1859.

Whereas it is desirable to provide for the allocation of a space on board Chinese passenger ships, for the purposes of a hospital or sick bay, and also for the medical

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