china — Page 25

} cer be capable of per
fect preservation dur
Water, imperial quarts 3 do. ing the passage and
Firewood -
lbs. 2 do. be fully equivalent to
Tea OZ. + do. | this scale.

[ Then follows a list of medicines, &c., for every 100 passengers, and in like proportion
for any greater or less number.]
Or such other medicines, disinfectants, and medical and surgical implements as a duly
qualified medical practitioner may certify and the emigration officer may consider to be
sufficient.
Given under my hand and seal of the colony at Victoria ,
Hongkong, the 28th day of February, 1855.
By His Excellency's command.
W. T. MERCER ,
Colonial Secretary .
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.


No. 11 .
No. 11 .

Copy of DESPATCH from the Right Hon. Lord John Russell to
Governor Sir John BOWRING,
( No. 11. )
SIR , Downing Street, 5th June 1855.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Lieut.-Governor Caine's
Despatch, No. 39,* of the 14th of March last, enclosing copies of a notification * Page 18.
and a proclamation which you have recently issued on the subject of emigration .
In the former, you announce that in calculating the restriction of thenum
ber of passengers by the tonnage of the vessel, the system employed for
measuring the tonnage of British ships will in future be applied to all vessels
employed in the carriage of passengers. I see no objection to this notification ;
(250. ) C 2
 ( 20 )
but I have to inform you that in the Bill now before Parliament for the amend
ment of the Passengers' Act, it is proposed altogether to except from the
tonnage check vessels sailing from Hongkong:
The proclamation substitutes for the provisions and medicines required by
the previous proclamation such provisions and medicines as may be approved
by the emigration officer. This is unobjectionable in itself, but the law has not
authorized the Governor to delegate such power to the emigration agent.
It will be necessary, therefore, that youshould recall the proclamation and
should issue a fresh one, comprising, as far as possible, the whole list of sub
stitutes which may be considered advisable.
I may take this opportunity of informing you that it is in contemplation to
introduce into Parliament a measure designed expressly for the repression of
abuses in Chinese emigration ; and I shall put you in possession ofthe provi
sions of the Bill as soon as it is prepared.
I have, &c.
Sir John Bowring, (Signed ) J. RUSSELL.
&c. &c.




No. 12.
No. 12.

Copy of aa DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring to the Right
Honourable Lord John RUSSELL, M.P.
Government Offices, Victoria , Hongkong,
( No. 136. ) September 12, 1855.
( Received November 10 , 1855. )
MY LORD, ( Answered November 23, 1855.)
In compliance with the instructions conveyed in your Lordship’s 1




• Page 19. despatch No. 11,* of 5th June last, I have the honour to report that the pro
clamation of 28th February, 1855, regulating the scale of provisions and
medicines to be carried in emigrant ships, has been cancelled, and another, of
which copy is enclosed, has been issued in its stead.
I have, &c.
The Right Hon . Lord John Russell, M.P. ( Signed) JOHN BOWRING ,
&c. &c. &c.



Encl. in No. 12. Enclosure in No. 12.
PROCLAMATION .
JOHN BOWRING .
WHEREAS under proclamation dated 28th February 1855 , certain powers were
unduly delegated to the emigration officer at this port, it is hereby declared that the
proclamation aforesaid shall be, and the same is, annulled from this date ; and that with
respect to passengers, being Chinese or persons accustomed to Chinese diet, the supply of
provisions and medicines for passenger ships shall in future be as follows ::
Provisions.
Rice, 1 } lb. per diem .
Salt provisions, —wholly pork ; or f pork and } fish ; or { pork,
} beef, and fish ,
Salted vegetables or pickles,
Water, 3 imp . qts. 9 )


Firewood, - 2 lb.
Tea, oz.

[Then follows a scule of medicines, dc., for every 100 passengers, and in like
proportion for any greuter or less number.]
Given under my hand, and Seal of the Colony, at Victoria, Hongkong, this 20th
Day of August 1855.
By His Excellency's Command,
W. T. MERCER ,
Colonial Secretary .
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.
 ( 21 )
No. 13. No. 13.

Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. H. LABOUCHERE
to Governor BOWRING.
( No. 3. )
SIR, Downing Street, November 23, 1855.
I HAVE to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 136 of the
12th September, and to convey to you my approval of the proclamation
which you have issued for regulating the scale of provisions and medicines to
be carried in emigrant ships.
I have, &c.
Governor Sir John Bowring, ( Signed ) H. LABOUCHERE .
&c. &c.


No. 14 .

No. 14 .

Copy of DESPATCH from Governor Sir John BOWRING, to the Right
Honourable Sir William MOLESWORTH, Bart., M.P.
Government Offices, Victoria, Hongkong ,
( No. 147. ) October 6, 1855.
Sir, (Received December 7, 1855.)
I have now the honour to forward copy of an interesting document, by
which it appears, that during eleven months, ending on the 30th September
last, nearly15,000 Chinese have leftthis colony by square-rigged vessels,—the
return giving no information as to the amount of emigration in native junks,
which are generally employed for conveyance of passengers to Cochin China,
Siam , the Straits Settlements, and the islands of Netherlands India.
It is worthy of remark, that during this period not a single vessel has
cleared from Hongkong with emigrants for our West India colonies, or for the
island of Cuba, or Peru, or any of the countries of Western America, except
California .
The great mass of emigrants who have departed from hence are of the
superior class, such as have been able to pay their passage money ; and the
return is instructive as evidence that the protecting character of our emigration
legislation is no impediment to the shipment and conveyance of Chinamen who
are willing to quit their country as adventurers in foreign lands.
These returns show the number of emigrants
To Australia 10,467
To California 3,042
To ports in China 1,375
To the Philippine Islands - 11
To Siam 50
To Singapore 46

It may be added , that the shipment of emigrants from the legal ports in China
has almost wholly ceased, and that it is now generally carried on from unlawful
places removed from consular control, principally Swatow andCumsing moon,
in shipping not British, and directed by agents not subjects of Her Majesty.
I have, &c.
The Right Hon. ( Signed) JOHN BOWRING .
Sir William Molesworth, Bart., M.P.
&c. &c. &c.




( 250.) C 3
 ( 22 )


Enclosure in No. 14.
Encl. in No. 14.
RETURN of VESSELS CLEARED OUTWARDS with CHINESE PASSENGERS from the 1st
November 1854 to 30th September 1855.

Number of
Vessel. Flag. Tons. Date sailed . Destination. Passengers.


Hamilton Brit. - 438 Nov. 14, 1854 Shanghai 6
Pielades Dutch 424 ‫وو‬ Amoy - 12
Yen Looing Brit. - 70 Nov. 17 Canton 10
Zetland 1,283 Nov. 18 99 East Coast 26
Samuel Churchman Am . 221 Nov. 29 California 72
Alfred 99 453 Dec. 1 California 246
Nightingale " 1,066 Dec. 6 Shanghai 4
Bombay Brit. - 400 Dec. 11 > Amoy: 1
Eliza Ann 99 258 Singapore 30
Bella Vascongda Spain 480 Dec. 12 Manila 4
Tarranta Portug. 320 Dec. 13 Port Philip 386
Margaret Mitchell Brit. - 930 Dec. 23 9 Shanghai 7
Inchinnan 565 Dec. 26 California 257
Naryana 417 Dec. 27 Foo - Chow - Foo 4
F. E. Schutt Hamb. 280 Jan. 3, 1855 Shanghai - 4
Leonore Am. - 373 Jan. 5 San Francisco 170
Alfred - 453 San Francisco 246
Wizard " 1,601 Jan. Whampoa 12
Arturo Brit. - 675 99 Port Philip 450
Resolution 382 Port Philip 315
Lucas Am. 349 | Jan. 17 California 168
Malane Brit. - 133 Jan. 19 Foo - Chow - Foo 4
Java 1,175 Jan. 25 San Francisco 578
Annie New Gren . 307 Jan. 31 Port Philip - 219
Lady Hayes Brit. - 384 | Feb. 1 Port Philip 263
William and Martha 359 Feb. 2 Port Philip - 275
Statesman 345 99 Port Philip 289
Asa Thor Dan . - 250 " Amoy - 12
Levant - Am . 382 Port Philip 355
George Metcalf Brit. 413 Feb. 5 Port Philip 229
Neptune Siam . 700 Feb. 7 Siam - 50
Gem Brit. - 249 Feb. 8 Singapore 4
Harpley - > 547 Feb. 10 Port Philip 336
Joven Idhap Portug . 600 Feb. 12 9 Macao 4
Elizabeth Ellen Am . - 581 Feb. 14 San Francisco 240
Kate Hooper 1,507 | Feb. 15 Port Philip 716
Cum - hap-lee Brit. - 78 Feb. 17 Amoy - 50
Santiago Peruv 198 Feb. 24 EastCoast 1
Palmetto Am. - 282 Feb. 27 9 San Francisco 20
Neurea - Brit. - 264 Mar. 8 99 Amoy 70
Tuskina Am . - 422 99 > Port Philip 280
Monsoon 404 Mar. 16 Port Philip 285
Alfred - Brit. - 788 Mar. 17 Melbourne 453
Hashemy 523 Mar. 23 Port Philip 336
Whistler Am . 922 > Melbourne 418
Nina Brit. 95 | Mar. 24 Shanghai 2
Ameer 459 Mar. 28 Port Philip - 214
Race Hound Am. 500 Mar. 30 San Francisco 100
Vigilant Brit. - 257 Mar. 31 Melbourne 196
Elizabeth 711 " Port Philip 320
Thos. Fielden 904 Melbourne 423
Menado - Dutch 717 Hobson's Bay 308
India Brit. - 573 April 4 Port Philip 266
Gundreda 450 April 10 Shanghai 25
Forerunner 141 April 12 Amoy - 25
Sting Ray Am. 846 April 3 99 San Francisco 301
Eliza Jane Brit. - 564 April 14 9 Port Philip - 264
Nile 378 Melbourne 173
Stephen Baldwin Am. 634 April 17 San Francisco 262
Resolução Portug. 689 April 19 Melbourne 317
Hannah - Brit. - 261 April 20 Port Philip - 100
Wild Pigeon Am. 1,000 April 21 Foo Chow - Foo 16
Alverton Brit. - 409 April 27 Port Philip 187
Science Am . 380 April 28 , East Coast . 3
Colibri Dan 202 May 2 Singapore 4
Victoria Peru - 894 | May 3 Hobson's Bay 426
 ( 23 ) .

Tons. Number of
Vessel. Flag . Date sailed . Destination .
Passengers.


Brought over 11,849
Maria Natividad a
Peru 518 | May 3, 1855 Port Philip 215
J. W. A. Lorenzen Ham . 749 | May 9 >> Hobson's Bay 357
Melane .
Brit. 136 Shanghai 12
Bombay - 513 May 11 Port Philip




និម
12 >




g-
ន្នី”F°*“+៖១។ឧទមននៗ្ន
Banner : 133 | May 15 Amoy - 4
Louisiana Am. 250 San Francisco 5
St. Joseph French 811 > San Francisco
Arturo Brit. 700 May 25 > Hobson's Bay
General Chassé Dutch 300 May 31 > Amoy -
Johanna 445 June 5 >> Shanghai
Nestorian Am . 697 > Shanghai
Hamilton Brit. 438 June 6 Shanghai
General Blanco Hano. 985 97
.
Hobson's Bay
Mariner's Hope Brit. 210 June 9 > Singapore
Primera de Santander Span . 550 June 15 >
Manila
Lizzie Jarvis New Gren. 500 June 16 San Francisco
Aar Hamb . 450 Amoy -
Clarita O Peru 200 June 18 East Coast
Taranta Port. 320 June 22 Shanghai
Tiger Brit. 146 June 28 West Coast
Hamlet 420 July 3 Amoy -
Adelaide 285 | July 5 Amoy
Cristina 272 July 7 Shanghai
New Margaret 411 July 15 Shanghai
Unicorn 900 July 20 Shanghai
Frederick VII. > 131 July 21 Shanghai
Mariner's Hope 246 92 > Singapore
Audax - > 150 July 24 East Coast
R. B. Forbes Am . 756 July 26 Shanghai
Nina - Brit. 98 > Shanghai
Homer 595 July 28 > Amoy - 200
Paul Johan Netherd . 600 July 30 >>
Foochow
Betah Brit. 177 > Shanghai 20
Banner >
133 Aug. 2 >>
West Coast 5
Abbotsford 425 Aug. 4 Amoy - 8
Lizzie New Gren. 373 Aug. 6 > San Francisco 21
Snow Squall Am . 742 Aug. 11 Shanghai 8
Black River Packet Brit. 265 | Aug. 14 > East Coast 50
Paquita -
-


Span. 348 Manila 5
Excellent Dan . 300 | Aug. 15 Shanghai 6
Favorite Siam . 556 Aug. 17 Amoy - 20
Horatio Am . 460 > Shanghai 2
Confucius Brit. 500 | Aug. 20 > Amoy - 100
Antoinette 219 Aug. 23 Shanghai 1
Nairn Balgyce Dutch 330 | Aug. 24 Amoy - 20
Lima Ham . 219 Shanghai 10
Keenan Hasselar Dutch 698 Aug. 25 San Francisco 20
Ocean Qucen Siam. 500 Aug. 27 > Amoy - 50
Mary Spencer Brit. 479 Aug. 28 San Francisco 4
Eaglet > 241 Aug. 30 West Coast 3
Cambalu 536 Aug. 31 Shanghai 2
-సలురు




Portug . 297 Sept. 1 West Coast
ఉతం




Taranta - 6
Brit. 169 Amoy -
.20




Ann
Siam Siam. 250 | Sept. 6 > Amoy -
Lontra Eagle - Brit. 139 Sept. 10 Canton
Amoy Dutch 474 Sept. 14 » Amoy - 70
Betty Dan . 170 Sept. 15 2 Shanghai
Homer Brit. 595 Sept. 17 Whampoa
Africa 515 Sept. 18 Shanghai
Christina Dutch 343 Sept. 21 Shanghai 30
Annie New Gren. 307 Sept. 22 99 Port Philip 14
Carman - Peru 350 Sept. 24 Shanghai 9
Johan Christople Dan. 272 > 99 Shanghai
Total 14,991


(Signed) Thos. V. WATKINS,
Harbour Master's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, Harbour Master.
October 5, 1855.




( 250.) C4
 ( 24 )
No. 15. No. 15.

Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. H. LABOUCHERE, M.P., to
a
Governor Sir John BOWRING .
( No. 11. )
SIR , Downing Street, December 8, 1855.
I TRANSMIT to you herewith copies of an Act ( 18 & 19 Vict. c. 104. )
t
18 & 19 Vic . c. 104 .
passed during the last session of Parliament for the regulation of Chinese
Passenger Ships.
By the last section it is provided that this Act shall come into operation as
soon as it shall have been proclaimed in Hongkong, if not previously pro
claimed on 1st January next. The period at which the Act will reach you,,
will of course render a Proclamation unnecessary to bring it into operation.
Nevertheless, it will be desirable that you should give it as extensive a pub
licity as possible.
The object of this Act is to prevent the recurrence ( so far as regards
British ships or ships sailing from British territory,) of the grave abuses which
have existed in the carriage of Chinese emigrants, and with this view it pro
vides that until otherwise enacted by the Legislature of Hongkong, every such
ship shall be subject to certain regulations specified in a Schedule to the Act
which limits the numbers to be carried, and requires a specified supply of
provisions, water, medicines, and medical comforts. The duty of certifying
that these regulations have been observed, is devolved on the “ Emigration
Officer ,” and any ship sailing without such certificate is made liable to for
feiture.
If you should decide, for the present at least, not to exercise the power of
legislation confided to the Legislature of Hongkong, but to leave the regula
tions of the Act in operation , I should see no objection to that course. But
in that case it would be necessary that you should at once issue a Proclamation,
under the 3rd section to determine the length of voyages of Chinese passenger
ships, and to make any alterations which you may think desirable in the scale
of provisions, medicines, and medical comforts. I must also point out that in
consequence of an alteration in the House of Lords, the “ note ” to Schedule A.
has become inconsistent with the body of the Act, and it would therefore be
necessary in publishing the Act to add another note to point out this incon
sistency, and that the penalty for breach of the regulations has been reduced
from forfeiture of the ship and a fine, to a misdemeanor.
But if you should decide on substituting a local Act for these regulations, it
would be essential that you should not diminish the protection which Parliament
intended to provide for the Chinese passengers in matters affecting his health.
You should not for instance reduce the superficial or cubical space to be
allowed to each passenger in the between decks, nor should you except on
very strong grounds diminish the space required by the regulations on the
upper deck . Considering the latitudes through which Chinese passenger
ships must pass, it is very important that there should be sufficient space on
the upper deck to allow the great bulk of, if not all, the people to be col
lected there in the day time. Otherwise the between decks can never be
sufficiently ventilated and cooled . In other respects I should desire to leave
your discretion and that of the Council unfettered . You will observe that any
ordinance which you may pass will require the confirmation of Her Majesty
before it comes into operation .
But whether you continue the regulations of the Act, or substitute for thein
a local ordinance, it is evident that the principal responsibility in carrying the
law into operation will devolve on the emigration officer. It is that officer who
is to decide on the number that a ship may carry, to ascertain that she is
seaworthy and properly fitted, manned and stowed, to inspect her provisions
and water, and to enquire whether the passengers understand the contracts into
which they have entered. It will also be his duty to see to the due execution
of the bond required under the fourth section by the master and two sureties,
and to ascertain the sufficiency of any sureties proposed to him . In filling
up the bond the names of the master and their sureties with their additions
must of course be inserted at full length. Upon the manner in which these
duties are performed , will depend,, almost entirely, the amount of protection
which the emigrants will obtain.
 ( 25 )
To assist the emigration officer in the performance of his duties, I have *
obtained from the Emigration Commissioners a memorandum * showing the * Printed Volume
instructions issued by them to their officers in this country for the performance of Instructions,
of duties similar to those which will devolve on the emigration officer in
reference to a Chinese passenger ship. These instructions will probably not be
applicable in all respects to Chinese passenger ships, but they will show the
minute attention paid in this country to questions relating to the seaworthiness
of passenger ships, the number of passengers they may carry, their ventilation ,
and the goodness of their provisions and water. Too great vigilance cannot be
exercised on these points, and it is therefore indispensable that the officer
entrusted with the duty should be a man of energy, decision, and firmness ;
acquainted with shipping, and capable of exercising a sound judgment in the
matter of provisions, & c. You would not hesitate, should it appear to you
necessary, to make any changes among the holders of office in the colony,
which would secure the appointment of athoroughly efficient officer.
In respect to the appointment of emigration officers at other ports than
Hongkong, if such appointments should be deemed requisite, and in respect to
all that relates to Her Majesty's consuls, you will receive instructions from the
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
I have, &c.
Governor Sir John Bowring, ( Signed ) H. LABOUCHERE.
&c. &c ,




No. 16. No. 16.

Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. H. LABOUCHERE, M.P., to
Governor Sir Joux BOWRING .

( No. 27. )
Sir , Downing Street, January 22, 1856.
With reference to that part of my despatch of the 8th * instant which * Page 24.
refers to the possible appointment of emigration officers at some of the legalized
ports in China, I have now to inform you that Her Majesty's Government
have decided , for the present at least, to appoint no emigration officer elsewhere
than at Hongkong. This decision will make it necessary that every British
ship carrying passengers from China should repair in the first instance to
Hongkong to obtain her emigration papers. But as the district from which
emigrants are likely to be procured lies between Amoy and Hongkong, and
during the north - east monsoon ( when the principal emigration in British ships
is likely to be carried on ), is practically nearer to Hongkong than Amoy, I
do not anticipate that any material inconvenience will be caused by this ar
rangement. The facilities which it will afford for carrying out the Act and
preventing the abuses which have prevailed in this trade are too obvious to
require notice.
But as under these circumstances it may be expected that passenger ships
will arrive at Hongkong to be surveyed and obtain their emigration papers,
with their passengers, stores and cargo already on board, it will be necessary
that the emigration officer should exercise discretion as to the manner in
which he should perform the duties imposed on him in regard to the survey of
the ship, &c. In the " substance of instructions issued to etnigration officers
in this country, which I transmitted in my despatch of 8th instant, it is assumed,
as you will perceive, that the ship can be entirely cleared of cargo and pas
sengers before she is surveyed, and consequently that a thorough examination
may be made of her both inside and outside. This of course would be im .
possible in the case of ships arriving at Hongkong with their passengers, &c.,
on board. In that case, therefore, the emigration officer must take the best
means in his power to satisfy himself as to the ship's seaworthiness, bearing
in mind that while his first duty is to see that nothing is omitted which may be
necessary to the safety of the ship and herpassengers, it is also indispensable
that nothing should be done wbich would throw an unnecessary or vexatious
obstacle in the way of legitimate trade. The same remarks will apply to the
instructions in regard to fittings and ventilation. Provided these be in the
( 250. ) D
 ( 26 )
opinion of the emigration officer sufficient for security and health, it would
not be desirable that he should attempt to follow strictly the rules observed
in this country .
I have, &c.
Governor Sir John Bowring, ( Signed ) H. LABOUCHERE.
&c . &c.




No. 17. No. 17 .
Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon . H. LABOUCHERE , M.P., to
Governor Sir John BowRING .
( No. 36. )
Sir, Downing Street, March 7, 1856.
With reference to my despatch No. 11 of the 8th of December, I have
to acquaint you that Her Majesty's Government consider it desirable that the
British Consuls abroad should be furnished with copies of all regulations issued
by the Governor of Hongkong in pursuance of the Chinese Passengers' Act.
I have, therefore, to request you to transmit to me a sufficient number of
copies of such regulations as are in force, in order that they may be forwarded
through the Foreigu Office to Her Majesty's Consuls, by which means they
are more likely to reach those officers than if sent direct from Hongkong.
I have, &c.
Governor Sir John Bowring, ( Signed ) H. LABOUCHERE .
&c. &c.




No. 18. No. 18.
Copy of aa DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring to the Right Hon .
H. LABOUCHERE, MP.
Government Offices, Victoria , Hongkong,
( No. 20. ) February 5, 1856.
SIR, ( Received April 10, 1856.)
I have the honour to inform you that towards the end of last month a
copy of the “ Chinese Passengers’ Act, 1855," was placed in my hands by aa
private resident in the colony.
Seeing from the last clause that it was actually in force here even without
notification from the Government, I determined, on the authority of the Lo pidon
No. 1 . Gazette officially received, in which it was announced as having obtained the
Royal Assent, to publish it at once and enforce it from the date of publica tion.
No. 2. Accordingly the enclosednotification and proclamation, dated 25th and 26th
January respectively, were drawn up and appeared in the Government Gazette.
A few days afterthe above date I had the honour to receive your despatch,
No. 11 , of 8th December last, with the Act enclosed.
A second notification was in consequence prepared and will appear in next
Saturday's Gazette.
No. 3 .
I enclose copy of it ; and I also have to report that, as it may be impossible
to procure a European surgeon for every vessel leaving this withemigrants , and
as Schedule A. under the first regulation, regarding instruments, & c., seerns to
contemplate such impossibility, I have directed the emigration officer to procure
from the master a declaration of his inability to engage a regular practiti oner,
and to permit the employment of a person otherwise competent, and posse ssing
the confidence of the passengers .
I have, &c.
( Signed ) JOHN BOWRING .
The Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P.,
&c. &c. &c.
 ( 27 )
Enclosure 1 in No. 18. Encl. 1 in No. 18.
No. 12.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION .
It having been notified in the London Gazette of August 17th, 1855, that “the
Chinese Passengers' Act 1855 ” has received the Royal Assent, His Excellency the
Governor is pleased to direct the publication of the same for general information.
This Act will therefore be enforced from this date, and the emigration officer has been
instructed accordingly .
By Order ,
( Signed ) W. T. MERCER ,
Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong , 25th January .1856 .
( Then follows a copy of the Imperial Act, c. 104, 18 & 19 Vict.]

Enclosure 2 in No. 18. Encl. 2 in No. 18.

(No. 13.)
PROCLAMATION .
JOHN BOWRING .
By His Excellency Sir John Bowring, Knight, LL.D., Governor and Commander
in - Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its dependencies,and Vice-Admiral of the same,
Her Majesty's plenipotentiary , and chief superintendent of the trade of British subjects
in China.
Whereas by an Act of the Imperial Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland passed
in this the Eighteenth and Nineteenth years of Her Majesty's reign, entitled an Act
for the regulation of Chinese passenger ships, under the third clause thereof it is
6

enacted, that “ it shall be lawful for theGovernor of Hongkong to declare by proclamation
“ for the purposes of this Act, what shall be deemed to be the duration of the voyage of
any Chinese passenger ship : "
Now therefore I, Sir John Bowring, Governor as aforesaid, by this my proclamation
issued for that purpose, do declare that the following shall be the rule of computation by
which the length of the voyage of any ship carryingChinese passengers from Hongkong
to the severalplaces herein -after mentioned shall be computed, for the purposes of the Act
above referred to ; that is to say :
Pussage from Hongkong to the under -mentioned places for ships propelled by sails.
In the months
October to March. | April to September.
( both inclusive . )
California or West Coast of America, North of the Equator 100 days. 75 days
West Coast of America, South of the Equator 120 120
>




Sandwich Islands 75 56

New Caledonia, New Hebrides , Feejee Islands, Tahiti,
Society or Friendly Islands 100 100 9


Sydney, Melbourne, or South Australia 60 >
80
Western Australia 45 60
Van Diemen's Land 65 80
New Zealand 75 90
Manila 20 20
Singapore 20 45
Batavia 30 60
45 70
Ceylon
Madras or Calcutta 50 "
75
Bombay 60 80
Mauritius or Bourbon 60 80
Cape of Good Hope 65 85
West Indies, or East Coast of America 147 68
Great Britain or Europe 162 " 84
Siam 20 45
Given under my hand and seal of the Colony, at the Government Offices, Victoria,
Hongkong, this 26th day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and fifty -six, and in the nineteenth year of Her Majesty's reign.
[ L.s.] By His Excellency's Command,
( Signed ) W. T. MERCER ,
Colonial Secretary.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.




(250. ) D2
 ( 28 )
Enclosure 3 in No. 18.
Encl. 3, in No. 18.
(No. 18. ) GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION .
In continuation of Government Notification , No. 12, it is hereby further intimated
>



that the “ Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855 " has now been officially communicated to this
Government ; and his Excellency the Governor desires to point out, for general infor
mation, that in consequence of an alteration made in the House of Lords the " note " to
Schedule A. has become inconsistent with the body of the Act, and that the penalty for
breach of the regulations has been reduced from forfeiture of the ship and a fine to a
misdemeanor.
By Order,
W. T. MERCER,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, Colonial Secretary:
February 1, 1856.


No 9. No. 19.

Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring to the Right Hon.
H. LABOUCHERE, M.P.
( No. 78. ) Government Offices, Victoria, Hongkong ,
May 7, 1856.
SIR, ( Received July 7, 1856. )
Page 26. In reply to your despatch, No. 36,* of 7th March last, I have the honour
to state that the Chinese Passengers' Act was published in the Government
Gazette of this colony on the 25th January last, and that the following noti
fications have been issued in the said Gazette with reference thereto.
No. 13 ( proclamation ), of 26th January ; No. 18, of 4th February ; No. 22,
of 15th February; No. 34 , of 14th March ; No. 46, of 9th April ; No. 51,
of 22nd April; and a notification from the departinent of the superintendent
of trade, dated 12th March .
Of these I beg to forward all the available copies herewith ; viz., 25 of Nos.
13 and 51 ; 12 of Nos . 18, 34, and 46 ; and six of No. 22 ; together with two
of the notification from the superintendency of trade.
I have, &c.
( Signed ) JOHN BOWRING .
Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, M.P.,
& c. &c. &c .




Encl. 1 in No. 19. Enclosure 1 in No. 19 .

[PROCLAMATION, No. 13, January 26, 1856 , see page 32.]



Encl. 2 in No. 19, Enclosure 2 in No. 19.

[GOVERNMENT Notification , No. 18, February 4, 1856, see page 33.]

Encl. 3 in No. 19. Enclosure 3 in No. 19.
( No. 22.) GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATIOX .

Ir is liereby notified that the following fees are charged by the Goverrment
surveyor for certifying the seaworthiness or capacity of emigrant ships under the
* Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855 : "
Certificate of seaworthiness - 816
Certificate of admeasurement (when required ) 16
By Order
(Signed) W. T. MERCER,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, Colonial Secretary.
February 15, 1856.
 ( 29 )
Enclosure 4 in No. 19. Encl. 4 in No. 19
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION,
Diplomatic Department.
His Excellency Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary and chief superintendent of British
trade in China, &c. , &c., has received instructions from the Earl of Clarendon, to the
effect that no British vessel is to be permitted to depart with Chinese emigrants for any
foreign country until she shall have proceeded to Hongkong, where the emigration officer
will be charged to ascertain that the conditions of the Chinese Passenger Act have been
fulfilled ; and Her Majesty's consular authorities are required to notify these instructions
of the Secretary of State in their several jurisdictions.
Her Majesty's Naval Commander-in-Chief will instruct all officers under bis authority
to assist the Consul in giving effect to the orders of Her Majesty's Government.
By order,
(Signed) G. W. CAINE ,
In the absence of the Officiating Secretary
Superintendency of Trade, Victoria , to H.B.M.'s Plenipotentiary.
Hongkong, March 12, 1856.




Enclosure 5 in No. 19. Encl. 5 in No. 19.
(No. 31.)
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
In order to prevent difficulties arising on board emigrant ships at the moment of
intended departure, through unfounded statements by the passengers that their contracts
were not properly explained at the time of signature, persons engaging emigrants for
labour in the Colonies are advised to convey each labourer before the emigration officer,
or before a magistrate, who shall fill in the contract with a full description of the
intending emigrant, and certify in the form following, that its purport has been fully and
intelligibly explained. At present no fee will be charged for such attestation : :


FORM.

Name and Surname of the Labourer contracting (to be written in the
Chinese as well as in the English character ).
Age,
Native Province, District, and Place,
Descriptive Marks,
I certify, that on this day of 185 , in my presence , the
within contract was fully, distinctly , and intelligibly (as I believe) explained to the
above-named Labourer in a dialect which he understood ; that he expressed himself
willing to be bound by its terms ; and that he received into his own hands, in my
presence , the sum of dollars, as advance wages.
(Signed) A. B.
Justice of the Peace for Hongkong.
The attention of merchants and others interested in the emigration business is specially
called to the above intimation.
By order,
( Signed ) W. T. MERCER,
Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria , Hongkong,
March 1+ , 1856.




Enclosure 6 in No. 19 , Encl. 6 in No. 19.
(No. 46.)
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
In order to prevent unnecessary delay in the despatch of Chinese passenger ships
reported ready for sea, notice is hereby given that ,
1. It is not permitted to enter any of the passengers on the ship's articles as cooks
or stewards (if their names be excluded from the passenger list) notwithstanding
that compensation is made, by a remission of passage-money for their services in
these their respective capacities.
2. The ship will be detained if passengers whose respective ages exceed 12 years be
entered on the list as children ,
( 257.) D3
 ( 30 )
3. To the passenger list must be appended the names of the cabin passengers, if any,
the description and number of the crew, and all persons on the ship's articles
(mentioning the number of Chinese) ; and a memorandum of the total number of
souls on board the ship .
By order, (Signed ) W. T. MERCER,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Colonial Secretary
Hongkong, April 9, 1856.



Encl. 7 in No. 19. Enclosure 7 in No. 19 .
(No. 51. )
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
It is hereby notitied for the information of masters of ships carrying Chinese
passengers, and unprovided with the improved appliances usually found in vessels of
modern construction, and generally for the information of all interested, that in addition
to a windsail for every hatchway, it is required that a constant supply of fresh air be
ensured to the between decks in bad weather, by fitting at each end of the space set
apart for passengers, two funnels of wood or metal, four in all, with moveable heads,
in manner following, that is to say, the body of the air funnel to reach from under
neath the lowermost deck overhead to a height of 3 or 4 feet above the uppermost
deck, and to pass through holes cut for the purpose in either side of the deck , and
made water -tight by a canvas coat or other suitable means.
The attention of the emigration officer has been called to the above regulation.
By order, W. T. MERCER,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Colonial Secretary.
Hongkong, April 22, 1856 .



No. 20.
No. 20.

Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring to the Right
Honourable Henry LABOUCHERE, M.P.
Governinent Offices, Victoria,
Hongkong April 11 , 1856.
( No. 59. ) (Received June 7, 1856. )
SIR, ( Answered No. 95, August 11 , 1856, Page 39.)
I have the honour to report that, during the past month of March,
two cases were brought to my notice of intended violation of the Chinese Pas
sengers’ Act.
One was that of the ship “ Levant,” which has been seized, and is now in
custody of the Marshal of the Vice -Admiralty Court ; the other that of the
“ General Blanco," which , it is to be feared, has succeeded in starting on her
disastrous voyage .
Both vessels sailed under the Hawaian flag, and were owned by the same
person .
The enclosed correspondence will give full particulars, and after the decision
in the case of the “ Levant,” I shall have the honour of again addressing you.
»

As regards the “ General Blanco," she was out of colonial jurisdiction when
intelligence of her proceedings reached the authorities ; but I am anxious to
be advised if the position taken by Rear-Admiral
- Sir James Stirling be
correct ; that though she possessed no national rights, and was violating a law ,
no matter of what nation,he was not justified in seizing her on the bigh seas.
It will be perceived that I made immediate appeal to the Governor of the
Portuguese settlement of Macao, who endeavoured, but unsuccessfuily, to detain
the “General Blanco," for whose passengers I entertain grave apprehensions.
I have, &c.
The Right Hon . ( Signed ) JOHN BOWRING,
Henry Labouchere, M.P.
& c. &c.
 ( 31 )
Enclosure 1 in No. 20. Encl. 1 in No. 20 .
(No. 168.)
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong,
SIR, March 17, 1856.
With reference to my private communication made to you yesterday (Sunday ), I
am directed by his Excellency to ascertain from you full particulars concerning the ship
“ Levant,” which is stated to have been anchored in this harbour, and to have left with
passengers, and without a certificate from the emigration officer.
I have, &c.
Captain Watkins, R.N., (Signed ) W. T. MERCER,
Harbour Master. Colonial Secretary.



Enclosure 2 in No. 20. Encl. 2 in No. 20.
(No. 17.)
Harbour Master's Office,
SIR, Victoria, Hongkong, March 18, 1856.
In reply to your letter of the 17th instant, No. 168, I beg to report that the
“ Levant ” arrived at Hongkong from Whampoa on the 31st January ultimo, and dropped
down to Green Island on the 15th instant, where she still remains. The “ Levant ” is
under the Hawaian flag, and commanded by Albert Wood ; the owner I believe is a
Mr. McCormick, a Hawaian subject, now I understand at Whampoa.
The crew of the vessel were partly entered at this office, and the ship's articles are still
here, to have the remainder of her complement added, when they can be procured.
I have, & c.
The Hon. W. T. Mercer, Esq., 2 (Signed ) Thos. V. WATKINS.
Colonial Secretary.
& c. &c.




Enclosure 3 in No. 20 . Encl. 3 in No. 20 .
(No. 184.)
Government Offices, Victoria, Hongkong,
SIR, March 19, 1856.
I HAVE the honour to apply to your Excellency for assistance under the following
circumstances :
The ship “ Levant,” owned, as reported, by a Hawaian subject, but possessed of
no register, sailing letter, or other sufficient papers, is lying off Green Island with say
200 Chinese passengers on board, having dropped down beyond harbour limits yesterday
evening
The Chinese passengers are bound for Melbourne, and I believe it is intended to clear
the ship, if possible,for Macao, the voyage for which being under seven days' duration,
the vessel is assumed to be beyond the provisions of the Chinese Passengers'Act.
But the ship's articles are in custody of the harbour master, who is instructed not to
deliver them up, till the master, by anchoring again within the harbour, shall place
himself in a position to demand them.
I am this instant given to understand the vessel is now moving once more within the
harbour limits for this purpose.
By the interpretation clause of the Chinese Passengers' Act the “ Levant comes
clearly under the definition of a Chinese passenger ship, as carrying from this port “more
than twenty passengers, being natives of Asia .'
As regardsher plea, if offered, that her voyage is to Macao, and therefore, by its dura
tion, not bringing her under the Act, the passengers themselves will overset this, as will
also the fittings, the provisions, and the general preparations made.
I should here remark that the ““ Levant ” has no certificate, nor has she applied for
such, from the emigration officer of this colony.
Under section 6 of the Act the commander of a ship of war belonging to Her Majesty
has power to search a vessel such as this, and by section 10 to seize and detain her.
I therefore request your Excellency's assistance, as Her Majesty's Government have
issued stringent instructions that this Act of Parliament be firmly enforced , and by
section 11 of the Act, no responsibility will attach to any naval officer for acts dons as
above advised.
The Attorney -General will advise further proceedings when the “ Levant ” is reported
under seizure .
As your Excellency may remark, that it is in the power of the emigration officer to
make the seizure under section 6, I would observe that the naval authority is first
specified under that section, and also that it is advisable to employ an armed force to
prevent opposition.
(250.) D4
 ( 32 )
The “ Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855 " is published , should your Excellency not be fur.
nished with a copy of it by authority from home, in the Government Gazette of this
colony, 2nd February 1956.
I have further to suggest to your Excellency that, independently of the operation of
the Chinese Passengers' Act, the “ Levant” is liable to seizure and legal proceedings on
the ground of insufficient papers.
I have , & c.
His Excellency , (Signed) John BOWRING,
Rear Admiral Sir James Stirling, Governor, & c.
& c. & c. & c.




Encl . 4 in ' No. 20. Enclosure 4 in No. 20.
(No. 185.)
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong,
SIR , March 19, 1856.
The ship “ Levant,” apparently unregistered, is reported to have, suy, 200 Chinese
passengers on board for Melbourne, and has applied for her ship’s articles, in possession of
the harbourmaster, the master giving out that he is bound for Macao.
His Excellency the Rear-Admiral lias been written to, but Sir John Bowring is afraid
that active assistance may not be rendered by the navy, though the Admiral's reply has
not yet been received .
It is possible,however, that the Admiral may require some application from the emigra
tion officer, who has like power to seize under the Act ; and his Excellency the Governor
therefore directs you to make full inquiry into the circumstances of the “ Levant’s” case,
then to apply to the Admiral for aid, and finally to report proceedings to this office for
his Excellency's information.
I have, & c.
( Signed) W. T. MERCER,
The Hon. C. B. Hillier, Esquire, Colonial Secretary.
Emigration Officer,
dc. & c.




Encl. 5 in No. 20. Enclosure 5 in No. 20 .
Winchester, at Hongkong,
Sur , March 20 , 1856.
I had the honour to receive yesterday evening your Excellency's Despatch of
yesterday's date, and having had this morning a conference with you, I now proceed to
reply to the application for assistance contained in that communication.
In the first instance, I have the honour to state that I am ready and willing to despatch,
at an instant's notice, such assistance as may be sufficient, in men and boats, to prevent
opposition , by persons on board the ship “ Levant,” to the legal exercise of authority on
the part of any officer appointed by your Excellency to give effect, within the limits of
this colony, to the provisions of the Act for the regulation of Chinese passenger ships.
I only await the expression of your wishes in this respect, and in the meantime suggest
that such officer be sent at once to my flag -ship, in order that the necessary force may
accompany him from this to the “ Levant."
In the 9th, 10th , 11th , and 12th paragraphs of your Excelleccy's Despatch it is
intimated that a commander of a ship of war belonging to Her Majesty has power to
search a vessel such as the “ Levant,” and to seize and detain her, and that no responsi
bility will attach to naval officers for such proceedings ; and that the Attorney -General
will advise further proceedings when the “ Levant ” shall be reported under seizure ; and
your Excellency requests my assistance to enforce the Act in question, it being, as you
inform me, the desire of Her Majesty's Government that the Act should be enforced with
firmness.
In these circumstances, I am naturally anxious to give effect to your Excellency's
application, and I have to notify to you that in the event of your considering it impossible
that the seizure or detention of the -- Levant" can be effected by any officer appointed by
you to carry out the provisions of the Act, I shall, in this instance, direct a naval officer
to detain her until further instructed .
Awaiting your Excellency's reply,
I have, & c.
(Signed Js. STIRLING ,
Governor Sir John Bowring, Rear-Admiral and Commander -in -Chief.