fact
that there were 12 ships in the harbour under the Peruvian flag
destination
for Peru - among
or having
them mere
1 French - 2 German and 1 British ship. It does not appear that there were intended to carry Emigrants, but the remaining 8 were under the Peruvian Flag, for that service, & were only waiting in
ants were ready for
Hongkong
till
Emigrants
were
then at Macao. By a report from Superintendent of Immigration,
intended
the
at Macao it
appears that the number of Emigrants shipped from that Port in 1872
was
To Savannah.. 6,613
Peru.
an increase at
14,242
20,853".
compared with 1871 of 5,022. The Governor of Macao has directed that in future a stipulation
"for a back passage shall be inserted in all contracts made with Chinese at Macao. Sir A. Kennedy justly observes that though
of the good faith of the Governor he does not see how this stipulation is to be enforced. I observe however that in the return annexed to the report of the Superintendent of Immigration the number of returned Emigrants in 1872 is given as 7,363 - It is not stated from what places they
came.
1:29. reports that the
had
laid before the Council Lord Kimberley's despatch
D
20 Mar 1872, † announced his intention introducing an Ordinance to carry out the
instructions it contains.
M: 33. Encloses the
copy
of
216
despatch of Mr.
Brief Justice, Secretary and other documents on the subject of the mode of dealing with ships in Hongkong
waters intended to carry Emigrants
from Macao or
elsewhere -
ds on
the
assumption
The Chief Justice proceeds
-- which is denied by the Colonial Attorney General
and
by the
Law officers in this country - that
and
by the
the Emigration from Macao is a slave Trade and consequently
that ships fitting for it could be seized under the Slave Trade Act, 5 Geo 18, cap 115. As a judgment given by the Chief Justice on this view of the Law is now under appeal to the Judicial Committee, and as the highest legal opinion in this country is against him it is clear that the Governor would not have been justified in acting on the Chief Justice's views. Assuming that he will not do so, the Chief Justice suggests that a Law should be passed declaring
Coolie
Trade a
felony
in all its
phases, felony". and that the provisions of
Act 1877 the kidnapping Act
72 of the Slave Trade Act and of an American Coolie Trade Act should be adopted for its prohibition. As however it is not intended to prohibit Emigration from China to British Colonies by Parliament declaring the
Slave Trade could
Emigration
but only to forbid assistance
to
a
Maritime Emigration.
affect not