456 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 17TH NOVEMBER, 1866.
commits some offence-the Householder has from the first a general power of selecting and removing his tenants, and can at least endeavor, either personally or through his Agents, to have his house conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Law, whilst he has opportunities through himself or his Agent of ascertaining the probable character of his tenants. The British Law therefore, unlike the Chinese, only expects him to do what he has opportunity and means of doing.
Finally, when we refer to the offences for which Householders are to be held responsible, all appearance vanishes of unreasonable expectation as to the duty of Householders. Those Ordinances, Nos. 11 and 14 of 1844, No. 12 of 1857, and No. 7 of 1858, define the offences for which Householders will in future be ultimately responsible, if committed on their premises. Those offences consist in illegal sales of Spirits, prostitution and gambling. Every Householder can if he chooses prevent all those offences on his premises, and I hope that all respectable Chinese Residents will earnestly support an enactment, which is intended to check a guilty privity as well as culpable negligence on the part of Householders.
As there is no intention of declaring Grocers and Opium Dealers, as such, to be Money Changers within the meaning of the Ordinance, and as the usual Chinese “condiments" alluded to by Memorialists will not be condemned as unwholesome food, it is unnecessary for me to add any observations in reply to the mistaken views of Memorialists on those subjects, who, I have no doubt, will be glad to learn that they have in so many points overrated the probable obstruction to business which the recent Ordinances may cause.
Their observations on the Piracy Court Ordinance, and the Stamp Ordinance, require no comment. In conclusion, I call special attention to the fact that the peculiar habits of the Chinese themselves, and the crimes of their Countrymen have necessitated the recent legislation. I cannot therefore say that I regret, as I would otherwise have done, the additional duties now unavoidably cast on Chinese Residents. It clearly was impossible to defer longer grappling with the difficult questions raised by Piracy on the one hand, and the noxiously unclean condition of a part of this town on the other.
I shall however always endeavor to render the working of necessary laws as little burdensome as possible. Nothing will inore assist me in doing so, than the aid, which the respectable Chinese can themselves afford hy inspiring their Countrymen with a desire to make the administration of Law casy, so that in time the penalties and provisions found most vexatious, may be relaxed or altogether discontinued.
RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL,
Governor.
No. 171.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
By Order of His Excellency the GOVERNOR, the following Letter from Mr. Vice-Consul MAYERS, in charge of Her Majesty's Consulate at Canton, covering Report of the Assay of the Hongkong Dollar by the Provincial Authorities, is published for general information.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 13th November, 1866.
No. 189.
W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary,
BRITISH CONSULATE, CANTON, October 26th, 1866. SIR,With reference to my despatch No. 181 of the 13th instant in reply to yours No. 557, with respect to the proposed Assay of the Hongkong Dollar, I have much satisfaction in acquainting you, for the information of His Excellency SIR RICHARD MACDONNELL, with the completion and results of this process.
Mr. TooKEY, of the Hongkong Mint, having arrived here on the 23rd instant, with a supply of Coin and Assaying Apparatus, a Meeting took place between myself and the Chinese Officials appointed for the purpose, on the following day, when $100 were submitted to the Chinese Assaying process, as a result of which they were declared equal to the standard of 100% purity.
The Chinese Officials were highly interested in the skilful Assay conducted simultaneously with the Chinese process by Mr. TOOKEY.
A Minute of the results of this investigation has been drawn up and jointly signed; and I have the honor now to enclose for His Excellency's information a quintuplicate copy of this document.
On further official action being taken with respect to the recognition of the new coinage by the Chinese Authorities, I shall communicate their proceedings without delay.-I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant,
The Hon. W. T. MERCER, Esq.,
Colonial Secretary, Hongkong.
(Signed,)
WM. FREDк. MAYERS, Vice-Consul, in charge of Her Britannic Majesty's Consulate.
Minute of an Assay of the Dollar coined by the Royal Mint of Hongkong, held at the Hêng Mow Customs' Bank at Canton, on Wednesday, the 24th October, 1866.
In the presence of
WILLIAM FREDERICK MAYERS, Esq., Vice-Consul in charge of Her Britannic Majesty's Consulate at Canton, TS'I T'UNG-HAO, Civil Aide-de-Camp to the Viceroy of the Two Kwang Provinces, and
Lów SHU, Keeper of the Customs' Treasury.
CHARLES TOOKEY, Esq., Assayer to the Royal Mint, Hongkong, also present.
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