}
"Chinese Dominions and also to the reports which have been
Freceived of the treatment of Chinese emigrants in foreign
"countries, and in Peru more particularly, Her Majesty's
"Government ought not to facilitate their emigration by
#allowing Hongkong to be used by the parties concerned as
"a depot for Chinese emigrants. It appears to Lord
"Clarendon that the Emigration Commissioners have justly
"come to the conclusion that Chinese Emigration should not
"be allowed to take place from Hongkong except when the
"protection of Her Majesty's Government can follow the
"emigrants throughout their whole servitude". It was sub-
-sequently recognised that where the emigration purported
to be free it was as a rule sufficient to secure that it
was free in fact and to protect the emigrants until they
reached the country for which they were destined. The
Hongkong Ordinance of 1876 and the later one of 1889 now
in force have provided this security before embarkation and
this protection during the voyage and various local Ordi-
-nances provide protection both in the case of contract
and free labour in the country of destination if it is a
British Colony. If it is a foreign country British Officers
cannot supervise the treatment of coolies after they leave
the
96