12
f
166
Chinese Agents, the emigrants would)
be
secured by that which offered: more
money
down, and
the
more....
ready
to relax: its strictness of scrutiny.
I further venture to suggest
a
matter
how
requiring
consideration,
for the employment of native agents
Chinese Emigration
would be
justifiable
to undertake shipment of emigrants from Hongkong on terms which Her Majesty's Government would approve,
I have the
honour to say that if I be instructed to
do
so
in the face of that clause of the Convention
which
provides
that all attempts to
"entice"
Chinese under an
agreement
to
emigrate,
otherwise than
as
an
engagement
the present
"regulations provide, are formally forbidden,
" and will be prosecuted with the extreme " rigor of the law!"
enquiry
In answer to the Excellency's
whether I am prepared to
do
my best
it will be
my duty
to
employ my
deavors to render such emigration
successful and satisfactory, but so
as
it be left
to
my
judgment,
as now
I
retain the views I have
now
expressed above, I cannot upon my responsibility attempt any emigration from Hongkong.
I have &c.
(Signed) Theor. Sampson, Emigration Agent.
(True Copy)
Stanley Melton
Colonial Secretary