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CHINESE PASSENGERS' ACT.

this Ordinance in respect of such Chinese passenger ship, and to order that the said ship be seized and detained until the said license and the certificate of the emigration officer (if already granted) be delivered up to be cancelled.

X-It shall be lawful for the Governor in Council, to apply the whole or any part of the penalty recoverable in case of the non-observance or non-performance of the regulations of this Ordinance under the provisions of Section 4 of the "Chinese Passengers Act, 1855," towards the expenses of reconveying to their homes intending emigrants by any vessel in respect of which the license granted under this Ordinance shall have been revoked, in manner hereinbefore provided.

XI.-It shall be lawful for the Governor in Council from time to time, to exempt from the operation of this Ordinance, any mail steamers or other vessels which are subject to the provisions of the "Chinese Passengers Act, 1855;" provided that the Chinese passengers proceeding in such vessels be free emigrants and under no

contract of Service whatever.

XII.-Nothing in this Ordinance shall be deemed to affect the regulations contained in Schedule A of the "Chinese Passengers Act, 1855," which shall be and continue in full force and effect as provided by Section XVII. of the “

Hongkong Emigration Ordinance, 1868."

XIII.-This Ordinance shall not come into operation until Her Majesty's confirmation thereof shall have been proclaimed in the Colony by the Governor.

SUMMARY OF CHINESE PASSENGERS ACT.

EMIGRATION OFFICE, HONGKONG, 26th December, 1860. Whereas much ignorance prevails in this port as to the laws and regulations affect- ing Chinese passenger ships, leading to perpetual reference, by ship masters and mer. chants, to the emigration officer, for information on matters of ordinary detail and standing rule: and whereas the laws and regulations alluded to are contained in various imperial acts, local ordinances, and proclamations, and decisions of the emigration commissioners, on matters arising out of the working of the system since it came into force;—(some of which documents are not easily procurable by the parties interested) it is therefore considered expedient by the emigration officer to publish in a condensed form the leading rules in force in this port relating to all private Chinese passenger ships and passengers, and as far as the provisions of the Imperial Act are concerned, to ships chartered by a British government emigration agent.

Any vessel clearing with more than 20 Asiatic passengers, on any voyage of more than 7 days' duration, is a "Chinese passenger ship" under the Act.

I.—The ship laid on for passengers, the master will notify the emigration officer by letter, of the fact, specifying the estimated number of passengers she can carry by surveyor's certificate, her destination, and the name of the licensed passage broker employed.

Note.-After which, the emigration officer will take an early opportunity to inspect

the ship.

II.-When the full quantity of passengers' provisions is on board, the master shall notify the emigration officer of the fact, who will as soon as possible thereafter, go off and inspect them.

Note. The provisions must be all placed in the between decks or on the upper

deck, and not be stowed away in the hold, until after inspection.

III. When the ship is ready to receive the passengers on board, the passage broker will bring a written notice to that effect from the master, when a time will be fixed for the attendance of the passengers at this office to have their contract passage tickets explained and signed, in the presence of the broker or his deputy.

Note.This notice must be given at least 24 hours before the passengers appear at this office, and on the same day the master, with two approved sureties. will attend and execute the bond under section 4 of the "Chinese Passengers 1.-Government Surveyor's certificate of measurement and seaworthiness.

Act, 1855," and deposit the following documents :-

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