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request tht certain clauses should be added to the terms of cployment explained to emigrants in Hong Hon, requiring each man to acknowledge a debt of $48 to the Company, such debt to be remitted by instalments of $4 for every month worked. The labourer would then be free to leave his enroloyment on giving one month's notice as laid down in the Order, but should he do so before the expiry of twelve months from the date of commencing work he Yould be liable to be called upon to refund a cum of $4 for each month during the balance of that period or in default (under Section 32 (II) of the Order) to fourteen days imprisonment.
J.
4. This recuest mes refused on the ground bat such a procedure was contrary to the spirit of Section 17 of Ordinance 30 of 1915 which forbids emiration from Hong Kong of indentured labourers. It has always been considered that the admission by the emigrant before his departure of a debt in respect of his massere denrives him of the discretion which in theory he possesses of refusing to sign a contract on er ival, nu he is in effect t that extent worse off under the now arrangement than he ras under the fummer onc.
5. At the same time the proposal is
admittedly in ccordance with the law of Sarawak, end in ectual practice is unlikely to affect the interest of the labourer. Morcovor if recruiting
tarou h