despatches he stated that a considerable emigration had then recently sprung up from China to the Southern states through Hongkong; that the emigrants, through the intervention of Chinese who had been resident in Louisiana, were engaged; but that he had apprised those in Hongkong that he could not sanction any emigration under contract except to British Colonies.
The result of this notice was that a large number of the Chinese refused to embark without a previous contract, and of those already embarked, a portion relanded. The ships which carried these Emigrants were despatched under the Chinese Passenger Act 15 & 16 Vict. c. 55, which fixes the number that may be carried in proportion to space and the mode in which the vessel must be fitted and provisioned. It requires a survey to ascertain her seaworthiness and the efficiency of her crew, and prescribes the regulations necessary to ensure that the emigrants understand where they are going, their state of health, and that they emigrate voluntarily.
There is no ground for doubting that these requirements of the Laws were duly observed by the Emigration Officer at Hong Kong before the vessel in question sailed.
Previous to this emigration, an attempt had been made to establish emigration from Hongkong to Peru, and as it appeared that the Governor had no power to