Sessional_Paper_1891 — Page 54

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The Ordinance to amend the law relating to Bankruptcy passed its second reading as long ago as last December. It has since received the careful consideration of the Law Committee to whom it was referred, and is now ready to be dealt with by you.

The Merchant Shipping Consolidation Bill, which was read a second time at our last meeting, will doubtless have received during the recess the close attention of those who are specially affected by its provisions; and, as it is important that no more delay than is necessary should take place in passing it, it will be placed before you again immediately.

Of the Bills which have been prepared to be brought before you perhaps none is more desirable in the commercial interests of the Colony than the Chinese Emigration Consolidation Ordinance.

The continuous flow of emigration through this Colony is a large factor in the prosperity of the Port, and it is to be regretted that it has been from various circumstances so much checked of late.

I am informed by Officers of the Government who have given attention to the subject, that this is in a large extent due to the absence of satisfactory arrangements for the proper treatment of Emigrants from the time of their leaving their native homes to the time of their return to China.

The measure which will be placed before you has as its object the improvement of the status of the Emigrant, so far as the Government of this Colony can improve it, and it is hoped that, by placing Emigration on a satisfactory footing, it will benefit the Commerce of the Port.

Other measures which will be brought before you are :--

1. A Patent Ordinance for amending the Law relating to the grant in

this Colony of Letters Patent for Inventions.

2. An Ordinance for the Incorporation of the Senior Missionary in Hong-

kong of the London Missionary Society.

3. An Ordinance to amend the Building Ordinance.

4. A St. John's Church Ordinance for providing for the future maintenance and administration of the Cathedral, consequent upon the abolition of the post of Colonial Chaplain and the altered status of the Church of England in this Colony.

5. A. Volunteer Ordinance.

The defence works of the Colony being now practically completed and armed, the question of increasing the force of Volunteers and placing them on a more effi- cient and satisfactory footing has become urgent.

The Machine Guns ordered from England have arrived, and I shall have to invite the revival of the interest of the residents in the Colony in the matter of auxiliary defence, about which enthusiasm has recently flagged. The difficulties in arranging for the promised reinforcement of regular troops have now been got over, and there is every reason to believe that the Garrison will soon be completed to its full establishment, but the need for an efficient system of Volunteers is still great.

With regard to the question of affording further space for the interment of Chinese which has occupied the attention of the Government for some time past, and at which the present Colonial Treasurer, while acting as Registrar General, and the Registrar General since his return from leave, have worked with much energy, it has at last been found possible to devise means to carry out this very necessary object by resorting to the Chinese practise of exhumation and "urning" of the bones.

I have not ceased to use my best endeavours to induce the High Chinese Authorities of the neighbouring Province to suppress gambling in the Chinese towns and villages on our borders, which has increased with the diminution of the vice in this Colony produced by the Gambling Ordinance which you recently passed,

My representations have been met by the Chinese authorities with a laudable desire to co-operate, and stringent measures have been taken by them to attain the desired object, but I regret to say that the main difficulty in totally suppressing the evil there, arises from the shelter and facilities afforded to the gamblers by the neighbourhood of Hongkong and the easy means of transport. The earnest attention of the Government is being directed to this phase of the matter.