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refund of expenses by Messrs. Gibb, Livingston & Co. were carried out satisfactorily. In the cold season the men were provided in British North Borneo with quilted clothing and blankets, so that they would not, as was the case in previous years, suffer from the sudden change from a hot to a cold climate.
17. One hundred and eight (108) assisted emigrants were returned from Banca. Six of these were able to return to their homes unassisted while the remainder were sent home through the Tung Wa Hospital at the expense of the Holland China Trading Company, the agents of the employers.
18. During the year 4 applications were received for the redemption of Assisted Emigrants from Banca. 3 of the men applied for have already returned; and of these one was redeemed by the generosity of the Holland China Trading Company, free of charge to the applicant, a poor widow.
In the fourth case the man went to Banca by way of Macao, in order to evade the Emigration Laws of the Colony. His redemption has been sought successively through Macao, Singapore, and the Consul General for the Netherlands Indies in Hongkong. At the end of the year he had not yet returned. He has since been recovered and returned to his family.
Two applications were received for the redemption of assisted coolies from British North Borneo. Both men have returned and have been handed over to their relatives.
A request was also received to forward a letter to an assisted emigrant in British North Borneo asking him to return at the expiration of his contract. The man was traced and the letter delivered.
19. Nine passage brokers' licences at $200 each were issued under the Emigration Ordinance No. 30 of 1915.
20. Classification of Assisted Emigrants by the language spoken gives the following figures:
Cantonese, 6,277 Hakka, 6,589 Hoklo, 284 Hainanese, 82 Southern Mandarin (mostly from Kwong Sai and Hunan), 562 Ningpo, 1 Total, 13,875THE BOARDING HOUSE ORDINANCE.
No. 23 of 1917.
21. Under this Ordinance Chinese Boarding Houses are divided into seven classes for the purposes of licensing and regulation.