CAB11-57-5 — Page 192

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CHAPTER VI.

CIVIL ADMINISTRATION, SPECIAL HARBOUR REGULATIONS, AND MISCELLANEOUS.

1. Regulation of Harbour Traffic.

The special Regulations for harbour traffic, to be put into force when hostilities are threatening at the discretion of the Senior Naval and Military Officers, are recorded in Schedule XI of Chapter III (E).

Notification of these Regulations being put in force will be sent to the Consuls at all neighbouring ports in China, Japan, Singapore, Manilla, &c.

2. The acquisition of Special Powers by the General Officer Commanding.

As nearly all the sites for projected works are either on military property or on ground belonging to the Government, uncultivated and unenclosed, there will probably be no difficulty in obtaining immediate sanction for the construc- tion of the works; but negotiations are in progress for the acquisition of special powers by the General Officer Commanding for this, and occupation or destruction of buildings, and for requisitioning supplies and transport.

3. Management of Civil Population.

There are different Ordinances which already empower the Governor in Council to prevent any but natural-born or naturalized subjects of Her Majesty from residing or being within the Colony; to prevent Chinamen from being at large at night in the city of Victoria if desired, to swear in special constables, to search for and seize arms. All the above additional powers to those ordinarily exercised by the police can be enforced at very short notice.

Drafts of Proclamations which might require to be issued are attached (Schedule XXI).

4. Supply of Civil Population.

The exportation of food and other supplies will be prohibited as soon as war is imminent.

It will be important to reduce to a very large extent the number of Chinese residing in the Colony, in view of a possible blockade. This will probably effect itself by the voluntary exodus of Chinese which will take place on war being declared.

5. Organization of additional Police Protection, Fire Brigades, &c. Police. The strength and organization of the police, according to the arrangements to come into effect on the 1st January next, are as follows:--

Captain Superintendent

Deputy

European force

Indian

""

Chinese

*

Total

Horses Steam-launch Steam-pinnaces Whale-boats

STRENGTH.

•

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:

1

109

210

261

582

108

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