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Guano Contractors of Peru, and the Sugar planters of Surinam to obtain in China and ship from Hong Kong cargoes of Coolies for those labour markets.
Through his influence, notwithstanding having been openly implicated in piracy and in other criminal transactions the Governor, has been induced to relax by instructions of questionable legality the most stringent clauses of the Chinese passengers Act aforesaid, thus levering open the door for all the abuses and cruelties, incidental to and inseparable from a trade in human beings. Your Memorialists submit that this so-called emigration but real Coolie traffic is contrary to British Law and having been prohibited by the Chinese Authorities from ports within their own jurisdiction, is also a violation of Chinese law, and of all international obligations.
In view of these facts your Memorialists respectfully urge the necessity of Her Majesty's Government instituting an immediate enquiry into the circumstances under which the Chinese passengers Act has failed to effect its purpose and into the conduct of the Authorities responsible for this neglect of duty, and they beg that measures be taken to secure in future the strict observance of the law.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
(On behalf of the Association and of the Committees above named)
Your Lordship's very obedient Servants,
Edwin Pears, General Secretary, National Association, for the Promotion of Social Science.
J. M. Chesson Secretary of Aborigines Protection Society.
(Signed also by L. A. H[illegible] on behalf of the Anti-Slavery Society).
[Signature of memorial attached]
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