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A noteworthy feature of this Emigration is the extremely favourable terias granted to the labourer.
An effort to induce the labourers to take their wives met with little or no response.
(c) British Solomon Islands-A few carpenters were recruited to work in these territories for Messrs. Lever's Pacific Plantations Ltd.
(d.) Mukataa. An application from the (French) Government of Tahiti for Chinese assisted labourers to work for the Compagnie Francaise des Phosphates de L'Oceanie was approved. One ship- ment left in the mouth of May.
The whole of this South Sea Island emigration has been carried out through the agency of Alessrs. Gibb, Livingston & Co., to whom is due an acknowledgment of their courtesy and readiness to meet the requirements of the Asiatic Emigration Ordinance.
(e.) Deli, Sumatra. As the result of an application from the Deli Planters Association arrangements have been made for a regular flow of assisted labour to this port. This emigration, which, until his regrettable decease, was managed by Mr. Van Yzeren, promises in every way to uphold the good traditions of assisted emigration to the Dutch East Indies. The men are recruit- ed from the Hoklo districts round Swatow, and efforts have been made, with considerable success, to induce wives to follow their husbands abroad. The first shipment for Dali left in the late.
autumn.
Owing to the scarcity of direct ships from Hongkong to Deli, these men are sometimes sont in British ships as far as Singapore, where, arrangements have been made for their transhipment.
(.) Cuba. The relaxation of the restriction ou Chinese im- migration into Cuba, so as to enable the Cuban Government to discharge its obligations under the International Sugar Convention led to a rush of Chinese emigrants to Cuba. The Secretary of State has ruled that apart from old emigrants returning to Cuba, such emigration could not be permitted without the sanction of the Governments of China and Cuba. In the absence of any efforts on the part of the Government of Cuba to put the emigration on a regular footing the position is still unsatisfactory.
14. The total number of free emigrants to the Fiji Islands, who passed through this office was 42. They went in small parties at irregular intervals.
15. Fifteen (15) decrepits were returned from Singapore, one died at sea: the rest were sent back to their homes by tho Tung Wah Hospital. Two of those men were blind, and had to be sent away under escort. An arrangement has now been made by which the expenses of sending these repatriates to their homes are paid through the Singapore Advance Account with the Treasury in Hongkong.
(b) Twenty-three (23) decrepits, of whom three died on the voyage were sent back to Hongkong from Penang. 14 of these were provided with through tickets to Arnoy and Swatow and wore seen off to their destinations. Of the remainder one died in the Tung Wah Hospital, and 5 were sent to their homes by the Tung Wal Hospital. The expenses incurred were debited to the account of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, Penang, with this office.
16. One hundred and seventy-eight (178) decrepits and destitutes were repatriated from British North Borneo as compared with 189 in 1919. Of these two died on the voyage, while the remainder were sent to their homes by the Tung Wah Hospital. The expenses incurred were refunded by Messrs. Gibb, Livingston & Co., the agents in Hongkong of the British North Borneo Co.
17.(a.) Two hundred and seventy four (274) assisted emigrants, rejected by the Medical Officer, were repatriated from Banca, as compared with 108 in 1919. Five of these went away unassisted, while the remainder were sent to their homes by the Tung Wah Hospital at the expense of the Holland China Trading Company by whom they were recruited.
(b). Sixty-two (62) assisted emigrants, rejected by the Medical Officer, were repatriated from Balik Papan. With the exception of eight (8) who went away unassisted all were sent to their homes by the Tung Wah Hospital at the expense of the Holland China Trud- ing Company by whom they had been recruited.
(c). Three decrepits who had returned from Deli (Sumatra) appeared at this office in a destitute condition, and requested passages to their homes. They were dealt with by the Tung Wah Hospital and the expenses incurred refunded by the Consul- General for the Netherlands Indies in Hongkong, with whom an arrangement has since been made to repatriate such men on a regular system.
Owing to increases in the cost of living and to troubles in the interior, amounts paid in respect of these repatriated persona have in some cases been increased.
18. Ten (10) applications for the redemption of assisted coolies were received as compared with six (6) in 1919.
(a.) Banka. Three (3) applications were received, and all the men were repatriated and handed back to their relatives,
A request was received to forward a letter to an assisted emigrant in Banka, asking him to return to China at the expiration of his contract. The man was traced and the letter delivered.
(b.) Balik Papan.--Two (2) applications were received, one of the men concerned has returned, and the other case was still undor consideration at the end of the year. These are the first applica- tious received for redemption from Balik Papau.
The assisted Emigration to Banca and Balik Papan is managed by the Holland China Trading Company, to whose prompt action the parties concerned in these cases are indebted.
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