C 5
receives assistance for his journey, but enters into no contract on his arrival; the arrangement by which he gradually pays back any loan being a friendly one. There is no doubt that this system is in force to a limited extent in emigration from China, and it will be fostered in every way, but precautions have to be taken to prevent recruiters who are working according to the ordinary assisted emigration system from trying to get their assisted emigrants through Hongkong under the guise of "Kangany" emigrants. A number of coolies posing as free passengers, have been refused permission to embark, and the action of this Office has been much criticized in consequence, but every endeavour is made not to discourage emigration in attempting to protect the emigrant,
To encourage the "Kangany" system of recruiting labour, the Chinese Protectorates in Singapore and the Federated Malay States will issue certificates (with photographs attached) to approved recruiters, so as to prevent any misconception in Hongkong regarding their status or that of the men they take with them.
The position of the ordinary recruiter in China is not at all secure; there has been more than one instance of recruiters being arrested by the Chinese Police.
The three ports that compete in any way with Hongkong as ports for emigrants are Swatow, Pakhoi and Hoihow. There are no signs of emigration which should naturally find an outlet in Hongkong, being diverted to these ports. The number of "unpaid passengers" (e.g., "Assisted Emigrants") who arrived in Singapore during the first eleven months of 1910 were:-
From Hongkong, 14,756 From Swatow, 1,996 From Hoihow 5,246 Total, 21,998The total number of contracts signed by "unpaid passengers" to labour in each particular locality in the whole year were:-
Straits Settlements, Federated Malay States, 2,663 British North Borneo, 3,680 Sarawak, 2,358 Assam, 25 Malay Peninsula, 114 Dutch Possessions, 6,447 5,240 Total 20,527The Secretary for Chinese Affairs at Singapore has promised to supply me in future with a similar return relating to Hongkong assisted emigrants only.
The licences of three boarding-houses which made a practice of recruiting lads employed in indoor work, shop boys, apprentices,