626
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 23RD JULY, 1881.
$
WONG HUNG-CHEUK (No. 663).--I am going to Sydney. It is my wish to go. I am going as a coolie. I was there once before. I pay my own passage. I shall have to refund no money to any LAU TSUN- one for my passage.
I have a wife but no children. I have been in the T'in-wo Shop. He is no relation. FUK was the master.
WONG SEK-KIN (No. 666).—I am going to Sydney. I was never there before. My father is in Sydney, and sent me money for my passage. I am going to work with my father, who is a gardener. I come from Tai-tau-ch'ung. I shall have to refund nothing from my wages towards my passage. When I go to Sydney, my father returns to Héung-shán.
He is
LAU A-IN (12 years old) No. 276.-I am going to Sydney. I am a carpenter. My uncle is a carpenter in Sydney. I am going to my uncle. My father paid my passage. It is my wish to go. I know I can do what I like, and go where I like. My father's name is LAU-KI. He lives in the Ú-cheung shop in Chung-wán. My father is not here with me just now, but my uncle is.
I have not been enticed in any way. I shall have to pay nothing back for my pas- going with me. sage. I expect $7 a month. I have had no wages hitherto. I have been an apprentice.
LAU A-FAI (No. 275)-Lam 35 years of age. I am going to Sydney. I come from Lung-to in Héung-shán. I have paid $42 for my passage. I pay it myself. I saved the money. I was once in Sydney before. I returned the year before last. I was 4 years there. I brought back $300. I have given it to my wife. I have 3 children. I got my ticket at the Wo-tsán in Wo Hing Lane, Shéung-wán. I have been 4 or 5 days in the house. There are 24 or 25 of us there. I speak some English (Gives specimen). I shall have to pay nothing to any one for my passage.
LAU KWAI (No. 192).-I am 37. I go to Sydney to be a labourer. I was in Sydney once I was there one year. I brought back over 40 sovereigns. I bought before. I returned last year. fields with them. Some of the money belonged to my brother now in Sydney. I shall not have to refund my passage money from my wages. I got my ticket through the Kwong-fung, Sugar Store, Praya West. I have been in Hongkong ten days. There are more than 50 emigrants in the Kwong- fung. I have not yet paid for my board. My elder brother is with me, and pays my board.
LO MING-CHEUNG (No. 717).—I am 23. I am going to Sydney. I want to go. I do not know what work I shall do. I have a brother there before me. My father gave me $42. He lives in Wang- long. I got my ticket at the "I-on." There are 9 of us altogether there. I have made no contract with any one. My elder brother is in Sydney. He has asked me to join him. He went there the year before last. He was a farmer. My brother will find work for me. I shall not have to pay him for my passage.
26th April, 1881.
FREDERICK STEWART,
EXTRACT FROM REPORT BY DR. EITEL.
I have the honour to report that, on returning to the Harbour Master's Office and finding that Dr. STEWART and Mr. GERRARD had left, I asked permission of the Emigration Officer to put to a few The Emigration Officer allowed me to put all of the men the questions detailed on enclosed sheet. the questions, sent also for all the witnesses I required to test the statements of the emigrants, and I examined in this way 4 emigrants, whose replies to the questions I put I append in extenso. Taking these 4 men as a sample of the whole, I am convinced that the vast majority would, on strict exami- nation, be found to be men utterly unable to pay the passage money themselves, but who, whilst being perfectly free and willing emigrants, have had the passage money advanced to them by Chinese firms, and will have to repay the money with interest within 18 months after arrival in Australia.
The very appearance of the men,--shoeless, stockingless,-indicated the class of labouring men who live from hand to mouth, and from the experience I have had of these classes in China, I am induced to believe that the idea of these men having paid their passage with their own money is utterly improbable.
E. J. EITEL.
26th April, 1881.
QUESTIONS PROPOSED TO BE PUT TO
UNDER NO CONTRACT OF SERVICE.
13
(6 PASSENGERS SWORN TO BE
-name ?
1. What is your surname, name and by-1
2. What is your age?
3. Who and where are your parents or guardians?
4. Where is your home, how long have you been there, and when did you leave it?
5. What was your occupation hitherto, what your monthly earnings, and where were you so
occupied ?