§ MR. JAMES STUART (Shoreditch, Hoxton)asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he has any further Correspondence or information to communicate to the House with respect to the steps taken for the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Ordinances in the Crown Colonies?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir HENRY HOLLAND) (Hampstead)The Colonies in which repealing Ordinances have not yet been introduced in accordance with the Correspondence laid before Parliament last September are Malta, Ceylon, Straits Settlements, and 1003 Hong Kong. As regards Malta, the new Council have not yet met, so that no legislation has been possible. Further Correspondence with the Governors of Ceylon, the Straits Settlements, and Hong Kong have taken place on the subject, and I have not altered my decision in the case of any of those Colonies; but have sent the additional instruction to the Governor of Ceylon that, pending the introduction of the repealing Ordinance, if such should not be introduced in the current Session, the operation of the existing Ordinance should be suspended. A similar instruction had already been sent to the Governors of Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements. I should prefer not to present any further Correspondence until the remaining Ordinances, which are being prepared, are passed.