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Netherlands Minister asking explanation of certain proceedings taken in Hongkong against Meeps" Sobscheid and Hubener- Emigration Agents here for Surinam
2. From Baron Bentinck despatch of the 22nd January last it appears that His Excellency is under the impression that the Authorities here had interfered to prevent cargo of the "Portland" proceeding with her Emigrants. I shall presently show there is no ground whatever for such an assumption.
The Authorities here in no way interfered with the voyage of the "Portland".
3. What did occur was this. The Police Authorities received information, perfectly well founded that certain Chinese Females were illegally detained against their will in a house in this city. They proceeded there and found upwards of 20 women detained and arrested five men who were subsequently convicted of kidnapping and who are still in prison for that offence.
4. Papers were found in that house, and also in another frequented by kidnappers, which papers printed in English and Chinese stated the bearer was authorized by Mr Sobscheid to collect Remigrants. Several Bills of Sale of the women were also found in those houses and the circumstances were so suspicious that Mr Sobscheid and his Chinese clerk were summoned to answer to the charge of being accessories to the illegal sale and detention of the women.
5. They were released owing to a great...