+
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which he is asked to enter into; that he should be able to
exercise an unfettered option of entering into it or not; and
that if he declines to do so in consequence of fraud or
misapprehension as to nature of work on engagement he should
of returning
have the opportunity to China without cost to himself. If
these conditions are fulfilled the Emigrant is in fact that
species of voluntary passenger which is properly designated
an Assisted Emigrant. These conditions were not fulfilled in
the case of the German application for Samoan labour and I
consequently withheld my consent.
6.
Your Lordship's despatch under reply, and
the preceding correspondence to which you refer is concerned
entirely with indentured labour which is an entirely separate
question from that of Assisted Emigration; but in the final
sentence of your despatch Your Lordship observes "In any case
no countenance should be given to any future proposals of this
kind for the shipment of Chinese from Hongkong to foreign
countries whether under indenture or not" With reference to
these words I desire respectfully to submit the following
observations for Your Lordship's consideration.
7.