57
to do as he pleased when he landed at his destination,
was another question and depended on a variety of
circumstances; it was a matter in which the Hong Kong
Government would find it difficult to interfere.
If
Chinese emigration from Hong Kong were prohibited, it
would not stop the supply, it would be recruited direct
w
from China without the safeguards imposed by the Hong
Kong Ordinance.
Mr.Boyd agreed that so long as there was no question
of recruitment in Hong Kong of Chinese for actual
indentured labour in Sarawak or North Borneo, there would
probably be no criticism from the International Labour
Office. It seemed essential however, that we should
be prepared to insist on the distinction between what is
generally termed "indentured labour" and the conditions
under which Chinese recruited through the agency of Hong
Kong labour in Sarawak and Norther Borneo.
Mr. Ellis said that if the conditions of labour in
Sarawak were adjudged to be unsuitable by the League,
no doubt the Secretary of State as representing Sarawak
internationally would bring pressure on that Government
to have them amended. But at present there was no evidence
of that.
It was therefore agreed unanimously to recommend
the approval of the proposals of the Officer Administering
the Government of Hong Kong in his despatch of the 9th
November, with the omission of the word "indentured" in
sub-paragraph 2.