ONFIDENTIA L.
Sir,
Rec
C. 395
16121
1 12 MAY 13
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONGKONG. 21st. April, 1913.
Los 32178012
Bruner'
42248155
With reference to your Despatch No. 321 of the
25th. of October, which I regret has remained unanswered so long,I have the honour to inform you that the information contained in my Z telegram of the 7th. of August (confirmed by Despatch of the 12th. 27740
72 August) is correct. A reference to Sir F. Lugard's Despatch No. 84
10654 of the 8th. of March, 1912, shows that it was proposed that con-
-tracts for Borneo only should be signed in this Colony. Perhaps
it is that proposal which misled Sir West Ridgeway.
72
574 337
12
Amne
2.
The arrangement referred to in the 2nd. para- -graph of your Despatch No. 330 of the 2nd. of November, 1912, is adopted.
3.
There is another matter connected with emigra-
-tion to British North Borneo which Sir Test Ridgeway on a recent
visit to the Colony brought up. It is whether contracts may be
extended in the case of coolies engaged on Tobacco Plantations for periods not exceeding 60 days in order to complete the work of
harvesting the tobacco crop.
The 300 days limit makes it impossible for
either employer or labourer to take advantage of the terms of the contract which are most favoured by both sides viz.:- those con-
-tained in sections 4 and 5 thereof (copy enclosed for convenience
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
&C..
LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,
&C..
&c...
of