510
Land
8
Annexed to the Governor's despatch is a return of ships that have sailed from Hongkong with Emigrants since 24 Augt. 1870. It is stated that to 31 Decr. 1870.
6 Ships sailed with 652 Emigrants. To 31 Decr. 1871, 33 ships with 9,501.
To 31 May 1872, 37 ships with 12,339.
Of those despatched in 1870, all went to St Francisco. In 1871, 15 went to St. Francisco carrying 4,546; the rest to British Colonies. In 1872, 5 ships went to St Francisco with 4,210 Emigrants; 7 to Saigon with 1,967 Emigrants, besides 6 which went to Saigon and Singapore; and one ship went to Bangkok with 382 Emigrants.
On referring to Earl Granville's despatch of 30 May 1870, and the Foreign Office letter enclosed in it, it will be seen that in concurrence with the opinion expressed by the Earl of Clarendon, his Lordship directed that the emigration of Chinese Coolies from Hongkong to places not within the British Dominions should be strictly prohibited. I am unable to understand how, in the face of this prohibition, the above Emigration to Foreign Countries has been permitted.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your obedient
humble Servant,
To the Right Honourable
Earl of Kimberley,
&c. &c. &c.
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