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so instructed the Lieutenant-Governor, who is the protector of Chinese in Hongkong, to take such steps as may be necessary to correct the misleading statements to which I refer. The Viceroy of the Two Kwang has intimated that he will take steps to stop the circulation of untrue and misleading statements regarding this question.

As an instruction to the Emigration Agent is to the effect that he is to follow the Indian Emigration Act as far as possible I have decided not to prevail the voyage is one of under 30 days' duration, the Imperial Act of 1886 will therefore apply. I find that such of the Indian Emigration Act is not applicable as regards emigration from this Colony and I would call attention to the fact that the regulations for the protection of coolies under the local and Imperial Acts are quite as favourable to the coolie as those in the Indian enactment. Emigration from Treaty Ports in China is regulated by the Hongkong (Emigration) and Imperial Act referred to, and it would cause much trouble and inconvenience to alter the existing legislation in order to bring it into harmony with the provisions of the Indian Act on the subject, and I presume that there is no intention of pressing for such amending legislation.

G.

With regard to the regulation in the amended instructions which Your Lordship has telegraphed to me, concerning the appointment of an Inspector of Chinese Labour, it is presumed that this regulation was only intended to apply in the case of the Treaty Ports. There is of course no Chinese Labour of this nature in Hongkong and the appointment of any Inspector Official

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