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British steamer Official Number 62,287 but which vessel it was proposed to forward the Chinese. Dr Buschmann the firms of Messrs S. Schelthass & Co. be in the absence of Mr Beyer the senior partner is the Acting Netherlands Consul at this Port.

Upwards of a month since Mr Buschmann, of the firm of Messrs Schellhass & Co. called at my Office and introduced Mr W. P. Groeneveldt to me as a gentleman connected with the Dutch Government at Java who had come to Hongkong with a view to obtaining Chinese labor for Acheen in Sumatra.

The subject of the conversation was as to whether any objection would be raised by this Government to Mr Groeneveldt's wishes. I informed the two gentlemen that so long as the Chinese were properly procured, and that no contracts of service whatever were entered into with the intending Emigrants, I did not think the Government would raise any obstacle to their proceeding.

This being the first time that it had been proposed to introduce Chinese from Hongkong to Acheen I suggested that Messrs Buschmann & Co. and Mr Groeneveldt should...

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