Sir,
C.O.
293
0007
EN CLOSURE
3
Rece & Geer 15 APR 191
Hong-Kong, 6th March, 1899.
Replying to your letter No.334 of the 3rd Inst. on the subject of contract emigration from this Colony to Sumatra, we beg to say that a special argument in favour of the passing of such an Ordinance for this Colony would be an increase of revenue to the Government and the evident benefit to its shipping and its trade generally. Over and above this there is a considerable amount of British capital sunk in tobacco enterprises in Sumatra which are to a considerable extent dependent on a cheap and efficient supply of labour from South China. Some of the coolies required for the plantations are obtained from Singapore in which Colony contract emigration has been sanctioned by the Government, but the greater number are procured direct from Swatow where, by methods we do not care to adopt, a German firm has practically a monopoly of the business.
The fact that contract emigration is allowed in Singapore clearly indicates we think that Her Majesty's Government has no special objection thereto, and there is no
The Honourable
J.H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.
Colonial Secretary.
apparent