677905-1882-Proclamation — Page 2

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH FEBRUARY, 1882.

No. 1 OF 1878.

An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice of Title. the Legislative Council thereof, to relieve a certain class of Passenger Steamers from the Regulations of Schedule A of "The Chinese Passen- gers' Act, 1855," and from the Regulations of Schedule E of "The Chinese Emigration Consolidation Ordinance, 1874," and to substitute other Regulations in regard thereto.

WE

[29th April, 1878.]

HEREAS by section 2 of "The Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855," it is enacted that Preamble.

it should be lawful for the Legislature of Hongkong, by any Ordinance to be by them enacted for that purpose, to make regulations respecting Chinese passenger ships, and, in the case of British ships, respecting the treatment of passengers therein while at sea, and that until such enactment, the regulations contained in schedule A to the said Act annexed should be in force.

And whereas by the VIII section of "The Chinese Emigration Consolidation Ordinance, 1874," it is provided that all ships clearing out or proceeding to sea upon voyages of not more than thirty days' duration shall be subject to the modified regula- tions contained in schedule E of that Ordinance, which, as regards such ships, shall be substituted for those contained in schedule A of "The Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855," but that nothing in the said section shall be deemed to relieve Chinese passenger ships from the operation of the said Act, except so far as the same is by the said schedule expressly modified.

And whereas it is expedient by means of this Ordinance to relieve the steamers hereinafter mentioned from the regulations in the said schedule E, and to passenger substitute other regulations in regard thereto: Be it enacted by the Governor of Hong- kong, with the advice of the Legislative Council thercof, as follows:---

I. This Ordinance may be cited for all purposes as Ordinance, 1878, (Special Licences)."

64

"The Chinese Passengers' Short title.

clause.

II. In the construction of this Ordinance and of the regulations in the schedule Interpretation hereto, the terms and expressions following, that is to say,

Chinese Passenger Ships," "Governor," "British Consul," "Emigration Officer," and "Master" shall have the meaning assigned to them respectively by section I of "The Chinese Passengers' Act,

1855."

66

Voyage of not more than thirty days' duration" shall mean and include any voyage which, in pursuance of the third section of "The Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855," is for the time being declared to be a voyage of not more than thirty days' duration.

107

steamers, &c., sub-

III. The Governor in Council may, at his discretion, and on payment of a fee of Grant of special five dollars, grant a special licence for any period not exceeding twelve months, or for licence to mail any number of voyages to be performed within twelve months, to any steamer which is ject to regulation regularly employed in the conveyance of public mails under an existing contract with in schedule. the Government of the State or Colony for which such mails are carried, or to any other steamer which is approved by the Governor as a first class steamer. Such special licence shall authorize the steamer named therein to carry a limited number of free Chinese passengers upon voyages of not more than thirty days' duration between ports to be specified in the licence under and subject to the regulations contained in the schedule to this Ordinance.

The number of passengers to be carried shall be inserted in the licence, and shall in no case exceed one passenger for every ten tons of the registered tonnage of such steamer.

IV. The Governor in Council may, if he think fit, annex any special conditions to Power to annex the granting of any special licence applied for under this Ordinance, and may cause such special conditions special conditions to be specified in the licence.

to grant of licence.

V. A special licence granted under this Ordinance may, at any time, be cancelled Cancellation of by the Governor in Council at his discretion.

licence.

regulations.

VI. Every steamer to which a special licence is granted under this Ordinance shall, Licensed steamers during the continuance of such licence, be relieved from the regulations contained in relieved from other schedule 4 annexed to "The Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855," and from the regulations contained in schedule E annexed to "The Chinese Emigration Consolidation Ordinance, 1874," but nothing herein contained shall be deemed to relieve such steamer from the operation of any part of "The Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855," except the regulations in the said schedule A.