691099-1877-Straits-Settlements-Emigration-Ordinance- — Page 1

445

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 6TH OCTOBER, 1877.

10. It shall be lawful for the Colonial Treasurer or any person authorised by him upon the application Certificate of of any Chinese and upon being satisfied that such Chinese was at the time of the passing of this Act a exemption may be bonâ fide resident of the colony and that he desires to be absent therefrom for a temporary purpose only to granted in certain grant to such Chinese a certificate that he is exempt from the provisions of this Act for a time to be specified in such certificate And during the time so specified the holder of such certificate shall be exempt from all payments under this Act.

cases.

11. The sum of ten pounds aforesaid shall not be payable by or in respect of any Chinese who is one Act not to apply to of the crew of any vessel unless he shall land from such vessel.

crew.

12. All penalties and forfeitures imposed by this Act shall be sued for prosecuted and recovered in the Penalties how name of some officer of Customs or other person thereunto authorised by the Governor in Council.

recovered.

13. This Act shall be styled and may be cited as " The Chinese Immigrants Regulation Act of 1877." Short title.

No. 213.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

The following letter, received from the Government of the Straits Settlements, together with "The Chinese Immigrants Ordinance" passed by the Legislature of that Colony, are published for general information."

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 6th October, 1877.

CECIL C. SMITH, Acting Colonial Secretary.

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,

SINGAPORE, 29th September, 1877.

SIR.I am directed by His Excellency the Administrator of the Straits Settlements to transmit, for the information of His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong, 2 copies of an Ordinance, No. II of 1877, "The Chinese Immigrants' Ordinance," which has been passed, for the better regulation and protection of Chinese arriving at these Settlements. I am also to attach, for your information, the Debates in the Legislative Council, February 23rd-March 23rd, during the passing of this measure.

Under Section 12, His Excellency has, for the present, suspended the operation of Sections 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10.

In order that your Government may more readily see the objects of this measure, His Excellency has directed me to transmit to you the following correspondence on the subject:---

Circular letter to Consuls at Ports of China.

Letter to Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Pekin.

Copy of a Notice in the Chinese language explaining the action being taken by Government. His Excellency trusts that your Government will render any assistance in its power in giving publicity to the provisions of this Ordinance, and more especially to the intention of bringing clause 10 into operation on or about the 1st December next, as intimated in the correspondence.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

The Honourable The Colonial Secretary,

HONGKONG.

Straits Settlements.

Your most obedient Servant,

JOHN DOUGLAS, Colonial Secretary.

ORDINANCE No. II OF 1877.

An Ordinance to make provision by law for the protection of Chinese Immigrants.

WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS,

W

Governor and Commander-in-Chief.

[23rd March, 1877].

HEREAS it is expedient to make provision by law for the protection of Chinese Immigrants;

It is hereby enacted by the Governor of the Straits Settlements, with the advice and consent of

the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-

1. It shall be lawful for the Governor to appoint at each or any of the Settlements a Protector of Protector of Chinese Chinese Immigrants, and such number of Assistant Protectors and other Officers as may be necessary to Immigrants. carry out the provisions of this Ordinance.

2. Chinese Immigrants shall not, without the permission of the Governor, be landed at or transhipped Where Immigrants at any place in the Colony other than the three Ports as defined in the Harbours Ordinance, 1872, nor to be landed. otherwise than as is provided in this Ordinance.

3. The arrival of every Chinese Immigrant Ship at any of the Settlements shall forthwith be reported Arrival to be reported by the Master thereof at the office of the Master-Attendant or Harbour-Master, who shall thereon inform to Harbour Master. the Protector of Chinese Immigrants of the same.

The Protector of Chinese Immigrants shall, either personally or by an officer of his department, forth- Ship to be boarded with go on board the Chinese Immigrant Ship.