'
T
:
4.
In so far as the question of the
carriage of indentured Chinese coolies is concerned, the
matter stands as follows:-
Under the existing law such
coolies may not be conveyed in British Ships even though
the two Government concerned viz.:- the Chinese Govern-
-ment and the Government of the Country to which the
emigrants are bound are consenting parties. British
Ship-owners as Your Lordship is aware contend that as a
consequence a considerable legitimate carrying trade is
lost to them.
5.
From the point of view of the
emigrant the result is that instead of embarking from
Hongkong (where the supervision is infinitely better than
at Chinese Ports, and where every safeguard is employed
to protect the ignorant coolie from fraud), or instead of
coming under the cognizance and supervision of the British
Consul at a Treaty Port as they would if they travelled in
British Ships subject to the requirements of the British
Law of 1855 and the Hongkong Ordinance, they are compelled
to travel in Foreign Vessels subject to no emigration
regulations, and to very cursory supervision. So much has
this become the case that coolies rejected at Hongkong are
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