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profit on the carriage of emigrants lost but there is the danger that when a line of steamers has been employed in the coolie trade between two ports it will end by acquiring control of the general trade, &c. British shipping will thus be ousted by foreign.
(b) that it is against the interests of the coolies themselves. If they are not carried by British ships they will be carried by foreign vessels, which are not subject to such strict regulations for the health and comfort of the passengers as are contained in the Act of 1855 and the Hong Kong Ordinances.
(Some support is lent to this argument by recent despatches from the Consul at Swatow which show that not only are the passenger rules of foreign governments much less strict than those imposed on British ships but that in at least one instance a foreign Consul has...