696640-1874-Bill-read-first-time-Chinese-Emigration-Consolidation- — Page 2

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 5TH SEPTEMBER, 1874.

Licensing of "Chinese Passenger Ships."

sea without a

V. No Chinese passenger ship, except ships about to proceed No Chinese on a voyage of not more than thirty days' duration within the passenger ship meaning of section VIII of this Ordinance, shall clear out or to proceed to proceed to sea, and the Emigration Officer shall not grant the licence from certificate prescribed by section IV of "The Chinese Passengers' the Governor. Act, 1855," unless the master of such ship shall be provided [Ord. 4 of with a licence under the hand of the Governor and the public 1870, sec. 3.] seal of the Colony to be obtained in manner hereinafter men- tioned.

2. It shall be lawful for the Governor in Council, from time Power to to time, to exempt from the operation of this section, any mail exempt certain steamers or other vessels which are subject to the provisions of vessels from "The Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855," provided that the Chinese of this section.

the operation passengers proceeding in such vessels be free emigrants and [Ibid, sec.11.] under no contract of service whatever.

[Ibid, sec. 4]

3. The owners or charterers of every such Chinese passenger Time and mode ship, or if absent from the Colony their respective agent, shall, of application before such ship is laid on for the conveyance of Chinese emigrants for licence. and before any depôt is opened for their reception, apply in writing to the Colonial Secretary for a licence under the hand of the Governor and the public seal of the Colony for the con- veyance of such emigrants and shall furnish all particulars as to the destination of the said ship and as to all other matters relating to the intended voyage and emigration which may be required of them, and shall also furnish the like particulars where any exemption is applied for under paragraph 2 of this section.

untrue

4. All such particulars shall, if so ordered, be verified upon Punishment oath before the Emigration Officer or any Justice of the Peace, for furnishing and every person who shall knowingly furnish untrue particulars, particulars. shall be liable to imprisonment with or without hard labour, for [Ibid, sec. 5.] any period not exceeding six calendar months, and to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, either in addition to or in substitution of such imprisonment.

5. The granting of every such licence shall be in the discre- Conditions of tion of the Governor in Council and shall be subject to the licence and payment of a fee of one hundred dollars and to such conditions amount of fee.

[Ibid, sec. 6.] as may, from time to time, be prescribed under instructions from Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, and the Governor in Council may impose such conditions on Governor in the granting of such licence as he shall think expedient in each Council may particular case, provided the same shall not be contrary to or impose inconsistent with such instructions.

conditions.

6. Every licence granted under this section in respect Licence to of any Chinese passenger ship shall specify the period within specify time which such ship shall clear out and proceed to sea: Provided of departure; always that it shall be lawful for the Governor in Council, from proviso for time to time, to extend such period.

extension

thereof. [Ibid, sec. 7.]

7. In case it shall be shown to the satisfaction of the Governor Power to in Council at any time before the departure of a Chinese pas-remove master senger ship that the master, mate, or any other officer of such or other officer. ship is unfit for the proper discharge of his duties by reason of [Ibid, sec. 8.] incompetency or misconduct, or for any other sufficient cause, it shall be lawful for the Governor, by order under his hand, to discharge and remove such master, mate, or other officer from the said ship, and thereupon the owners or charterers thereof; or their agents, shall forthwith appoint a master or mate, or other officer, as the case may be, to be approved by the Emigra- tion Officer, in the place of the one so discharged and removed as aforesaid.

8. In any of the following cases, namely:-

(a.) If it shall appear to the satisfaction of the Governor in Council, at any time before the departure of a Chinese passenger ship, that the particulars furnished in relation thereto under paragraph 3 are untrue, or that any condition of the said licence has been violated; (b.) If any Chinese passenger ship shall fail to clear out and proceed to sea, within the period specified in the licence granted under this section, or within such extended period as aforesaid;

(c.) If the owners or charterers of a Chinese passenger ship shall fail forthwith to appoint a master, mate, or other officer to be approved as aforesaid, in the place of any master, mate, or other officer discharged under paragraph 7;

It shall be lawful for the Governor in Council to revoke the licence granted under this section in respect of such Chinese passenger ship, and to order that the said ship be seized and detained until her emigration papers (if already granted) be delivered up to be cancelled.

Power to

revoke and

cancel licence. [Ibid, sec. 9.]

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