NS CONFIDENTIAL.
Sir,
IREC
475
25315
REG JUNTS
HONGKONG.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
22nd. April, 1915.
I have the honour to inform you that Messrs. Butterfield and Swire have approached this Government with regard to the taking over by them of the carriage of Chinese passengers emigrating from Swatow to Sumatra, a business which before the wor was exclusively in the hands of two German firms, Messrs. Lauts and Hassloop and Lessrs. Jebsen and Company.
2.
In the year 1912 the Consul-General for the Netherlands at the request of this Government furnished full particulars regarding this emigration. He forwarded correspondence to show that the emigrants went to Sumatra of their own free will for various purposes, but chiefly with the intention of working on tobacco estates; but at the same time he pointed out that those who went as labourers signed no contract at Swatow, and that they sign- -ed a contract in Deli only if they wished, after arrival, to be employed. A copy of the contract, which was provided, shows no objectionable features.
3.
The Secretary for Chinese Affairs, who went very fully into the matter at the time, reported that this emigra- -tion approached much more nearly the free emigration aimed at by the Imperial Authorities than any emigration from this Colony, and that it appeared to be "in the very spirit of the Secretary of State's wishes and is exactly of the nature that he wished to
exempt altogether."
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
4.
LEWIS HARCOURT. M.P..
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