Government to residents waited upon the urge... that this Emigration should not be permitted. They clearly saw that the law was being evaded, for the men had been brought to Hong Kong under the impression that there would be agreements entered into.
Duly hundreds of them, "More than a hundred," had gone in a body to the Chinese Capital to ask the Board of Directors for information on the subject.
The Government, too, had strong grounds for suspecting the means adopted in bringing the men together for transmission to Achem. The Deputy Collector named You-Foo had been convicted in 1866 in the Supreme Court of the forcible detention of Coolies who were to be sent as immigrants to Dutch Guiana, when he was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment.
8. On the whole, therefore, it is not in my opinion to be regretted that the scheme has fallen through, though it should not have been entered upon pending the receipt of instructions from My Lordship in reply to the application of the Governor.