Night pass issued by Hong Kong Government

Night pass issued by Hong Kong Government
1881
Collection of Hong Kong Museum of History
In the early years, Hong Kong's crime rate was on the rise and the government imposed a curfew on Chinese residents. Chinese people out on the streets at night were required to carry a lantern and a pass (commonly called "dengzhi [lantern paper]"). Foreigners, however, were exempt from the curfew. This regulation, enacted by the early colonial government and a blatant act of discrimination against Chinese people, was revoked only in 1897.