"The tonnage of the vessels justifies taking cargo, and in addition not to overload for fear of accident. Just no great number of passengers are travelling, and things are quiet. We are extremely grateful to His Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong for his regard for human life. Please keep order.
When you are in Chefoo, apply to the water police to keep order on a ship in harbour, and to prevent more than a certain number coming on board, needless to say that it is useless to appeal to the coolies themselves, and to beg them to return on shore. They are too much afraid of losing the passage for which they have paid.
It is much against the interest of the consignees of the steamers, and of the brokers, who make a profit by the sale of passage tickets, that they should assist in this matter. Besides, Chinese passengers are apt to come on board steamers without the formality of taking tickets, intending to pay on board, so to attempt to put a number of them off a ship by force would create disturbance.
I think that what I have said shows that the traffic from Chefoo to Vladivostock is of such a nature as to call for regulation and supervision.