deprive Her Majesty's Government of the power of remonstrating against the abuses which such a revival would inevitably entail.
Free Emigration, on the other hand, which requires nothing more than the establishment of means of transit for its development, is open to none of these objections, and would, in the opinion of Mr Wade, Sir D.B. Robertson and Mr Sampson, the late Emigration Agent for the West Indies at Canton, be a more effectual and, in the end, economical mode of supplying Chinese labour to the Colonies.
Lord Derby would therefore suggest that, before referring the matter to China, it should be fully considered whether the requirements of Queensland and the Cape of Good Hope could not be met by the adoption of measures for affording means of transit to and fro between Hongkong and those Colonies.
His Lordship has little doubt that, if the funds at the disposal of the Hongkong Government could be applied to this purpose, a stream of Emigration similar to those which now flow freely to California and the Straits Settlements could be turned towards Queensland and the Cape.
I am, Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,
Kolm Wo