Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstra23241891roya).pdf/204

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The Lieutenant-Governor's views upon deportation will, no doubt, be read with interest at the present time: while his brief remarks upon the characteristics of the Malay race, which he knew so well, are as deserving of study and acceptance to-day as when they were penned.

H. A. O'BRIEN.

Singapore, 7th August, 1891.


PROCLAMATION.


Provision having been made by Regulations Nos. III and IV of 1823 for the establishment of an efficient Magistracy at Singapore and for the mode in which local Regulations having the force of Law should be enacted, and by whom such Laws should be administered, it now becomes necessary to state the principles and objects which should be kept in view in framing such Regulations, and, as far as circumstances may admit, to apprize all parties of their respective rights and duties, in order that ignorance thereof may not hereafter be pleaded on the part of any individual or class of people.

The Lieutenant-Governor is, in consequence, induced to give publicity to the following Minute containing the leading principles and objects to be attended to:—

MINUTE BY THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR.

As the population of Singapore will necessarily consist of a mixture, in various proportions, of strangers from all parts of the world having commercial concerns at this Port, though chiefly of Chinese and Malays, it would be impracticable for any Judicial Authority to become perfectly acquainted with the Laws and Customs having the force of Law which are acknowledged in their own countries respectively by the varied classes of so mixed a population, and to administer them in such a manner as to preserve them inviolate even in the mutual intercourse of those classes severally amongst themselves, far more so when justice is to be done between