1870. with to no less than emigrants two revolts occurred in the ports of Hongkong. and "the emigrants who had revolted were forcibly compelled by the Judge Smale to return on board under the pretext that they had already signed their contracts". The writer of the memorandum does not vouch for this statement which has no doubt is altogether unfounded. The circumstances connected with the emigration reported in by the "Frederick are reported in Sir R. MacDonnell's despatches 8524, 10765 of 25 May, 31 July, and 4 Aug 1869, 32, 53, and 26 Janry 1870. In the last despatch he reports the sailing of the ship and incloses a letter from the Registrar General who inspected the emigrants when on the point of departure, in which it is said that the emigrants appeared to be in good spirits and health, and that the only complaints were by some men who said they had been swindled by an interpreter.
In none of the despatches is there the least hint of a revolt on the part of any of the migrants. As to men having been ordered by Judge Smale to return onboard on the plea that they had signed contracts, it is sufficient that Judge Smale had no legal power to make such an order, and that his known opinion on the subject of Chinese Emigration would have made him most reluctant to use such a power.