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The number of Chinese Emigrants who left Hong Kong at the end of 1866 is 14,077, of whom 2,351 were adult females (See Appendix No. 5) since which time Emigration has been stopped in consequence of the non-ratification by England and France of the late Convention.
32. An analysis of the return (Appendix No. 5) shows that for the seasons 1859-60, 1860-61 and 1861-62 there were obtained at Hong Kong for the British West India Colonies, including 42 from Amoy and 354 from Swatow, 4,984 souls, of whom 1,013 were adult females and 168 children; and from Canton during the same three seasons 3,340 souls, of whom 424 were adult females and 51 children; and that during the three seasons 1862-63, 1863-64 and 1864-65, 3,008 souls, of whom 857 were females and 140 children, were sent from Canton, some of whom were collected in Hong Kong; and from the time of the closing of operations for the West Indies at Hong Kong, other countries have obtained under contract 6,456 souls. (See Appendix No. 2)
33. I have drawn attention to these figures, not with the slightest intention of finding fault with Mr. Sampson, than whom I believe there is not a more conscientious officer, but as bearing out the conclusion I have arrived at, after mature consideration, and consultation with officers high in authority and of much experience, that Hong Kong is the right place for the headquarters of the Emigration Agency for the British West India Colonies.
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34. Mr. Sampson, in his report of December 1864, urges his objection to Hong Kong further thus: "I never attached much importance to the Hong Kong Branch Agency, and am not sorry at having withdrawn from the field. In addition to the important local objections to the place, some of which I have endeavoured to point out, I have always conceived it objectionable that the existence of a small British Colony on the coast of China should be taken advantage of to draw people from Chinese territory in evasion of the surveillance which the Chinese authorities seek or are encouraged to maintain over contract Emigration, and in this view, since I have been in charge of Emigration, I have not sent a single Emigrant from that Colony without having him or her brought before Chinese officials exactly in the same way as though they had never touched British soil."
35. I regret that I cannot coincide in these views. Were the Government of China opposed to Emigration they might be correct, but such is not the case. On the contrary, the Chinese Government has given every facility to the movement, and rather encouraged it to the British West India Colonies, merely directing by wholesome rules and regulations providing for the care of the intending Emigrants, and for protecting them in forming their contracts with persons of more apparent intelligence than themselves; and I cannot think that the Chinese Government would have interfered, nor that the interests of the Emigrants will be better protected by the Agent at Canton with the help of the Consul and a Chinese official, than at Hong Kong by the officers of Government entrusted with that duty; besides, at Hong Kong Immigration is conducted under the eyes of a large European population and the censorship of the public press.
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36. These remarks will only apply to the time between the closing by Mr. Sampson of the Hong Kong Agency and the date of the convention; though even after that, and up to the present time, foreign countries have availed themselves of the British Colony for carrying on Emigration.
37. The 13th and 14th sections of the Despatch of His Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies (Appendix No. 9) will, I think, support my views, in showing the feeling of the Chinese Government respecting Emigration under British rules.
38. I think a material objection to Canton as the headquarters of Chinese Emigration is, that the ships embarking Emigrants do not approach nearer than Whampoa, which is distant from Canton by water from 10 to 12 miles. This fact would be of little or no importance were all the Emigrants embarked on the same day, but such is not the practice. They are put on board in batches from time to time as they are collected and sign their contracts; and it not infrequently happens that several weeks, certainly days elapse, before the complement is completed, during the whole of which time, those who have embarked are removed from the immediate control of the Agent who cannot visit them daily, except to the neglect of his other duties, and the confinement on board-ship to those first sent off is considerably prolonged.
39. Emigrants have hitherto been collected at Hong Kong by the Agents for the Foreign countries who required them, through Chinese brokers and merchants, Wohang & Co. being the one chiefly employed by Mr. Lobschied whilst he was acting for Dutch Guiana and Tahiti.
40. The employment of native Agency in collecting Emigrants is condemned, but without their aid it is impossible to get at the agricultural population and their families, which is the chief aim.
41. It is universally admitted that the Chinese who emigrate under contracts to labour are of the very poorest classes. Amongst them there would be no difficulty in circulating notices and pamphlets in their native language, inviting them to emigrate and pointing out its advantages; but how are they to leave their homes, and travel long distances to reach the agencies, unless pecuniary assistance through some medium is afforded them, and this cannot be done unless through native agency. I feel confident that no foreigner could penetrate any great distance inland with the object of recruiting Emigrants without risking his life.
42. These remarks will only apply in the event of our not remaining satisfied with the description of females which are at present sent to the Colonies, and with the existing system of drawing our Emigrants from the large and
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