FOR THE COLONIAL SECRETARY
Sir,
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong, 14th September, 1906.
I am directed to enclose for the information of the Government copy of letter dated 23rd ultimo, addressed to this Chamber by the local representatives of the Mail Lines viz.:- Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, La Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes, Norddeutscher Lloyd and Nippon Yusen Kaisha, asking for support in obtaining an amendment of the Emigration Ordinance No. 1 of 1889 so as to allow Mail Steamers carrying 50 Asiatic Steerage Passengers in addition to an unlimited number of first and second class Asiatic passengers without the obligation to take out an Emigration Certificate.
It is contended that since the present Ordinance was framed the Mail Steamers have largely increased in size to cope with the larger passenger traffic passing through the port. Also that year by year a greater number of educated and well-to-do Asiatics are carried as first and second class passengers between whom and those of Occidental birth it seems unnecessary to differentiate.
Under present conditions no mail steamer can carry more than 20 Asiatics whether travelling as saloon or steerage passengers, and my Committee consider the reasons above stated can reasonably be advanced to support the contention of the Shipping Companies that additional facilities might be granted them on the lines indicated in the opening paragraph.
The Committee of this Chamber therefore trust that you will be able to support their application.
Hon. T. Sercombe Smith,
Colonial Secretary.
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