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only in the fact that the intending emigrants are separated from the examining officers by a partition, of wool and glass, in which a window through which the head and half the boly only of the eaidrants are
visible, as they come up one by one to be questioned, This alteration
militates sonewhat against a correct estimate of the man's general Appearance, but I do not consider there is any substanial loss in correct
-ness of judgement as to the status of the men paasei.
13. The amenling ordinance of 1903 (No. 4 of 1933) provided principally for a distinction to be male between "Free" and "Assiste1” Ezidrants, by
the introduction of a new definition, and certain amendments providing
for special treatment of the latter, by the Registrar General, and for relieving the Emigration Officer of all responsibility on their behalf.
the new procedure appeare to work well, on the whole, though I fear it is
Hoihow tending to send emigrants to Coast ports - notably
for embarka-
tion, who would otherwise, under the old system, hava embarked in Tonskons
Most of these embark at Joast porte on board Poreign shios: thus taking
the profit away from British ships, who at present carry the great
majority of Saigrants from Hongkong, and the Yetical Rxamination fees
from this Government.' I am informal, also, that, in many cases,
emigrants who are really "Free" are forget to do to nigration Boarding
houses, be photograohel, and are treated as "Assistel" emigrants, #bich
has causel several intending stidrants to abandon the idea of emiérating,
and to return to their native villades, sooner than sabait to what they
consider an indignity.
13. As to the Contract Bidration, so far as I am aware, none has
taken place since 1904, when two batches of Contract Saidrants left the
Colony for South Africa. This year there was gone talk about contract
Baigration to the Federated Valay States, but as I have heard nothing
further about it since I received inatractions to lepote that branch of
enigration to the Registrar General, I conclade nothing has come of it.
Butan
tomotor RX
Harbour Master, be: 22/12/10