108
• have stready ritton that.
I do not agree with Mr. Phillippe as to what is a Contract of service. But for this explanation I should have been in great difficulty in gathering the drift of opinion which is enclosed and marked D.
6. His Excellency the Governor in sending me the Attorney General's opinion wrote the following minute on document D. dated 23rd August 1800. "Send this to the Harbour Master " to note carefully. " Emigration Officer.
The emigra nts under Contract " whether written or unwritten " regards as their passage: money "must not be passed buy " as free emigrants.
7. reversed the whole system of conducted emigration since the introduction of the Chinese Passenger's Act 1855 up to the date of this Minute. A Contract of Service under the Act was held to be a written Contract for hire of Service with remuneration for a certain specified period in the Country to which the emigrant proceeded, a properly prepared agreement signed by the Emigration Officer certifying to its fairness being used. In fact, emigration from Hongkong was extensively encouraged to the British West Indies and other Countries for many years on the principle of " Contract of Service.
Although con believing I his decision completely. that the scientionely reversed construction