252
114
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841–1941
· REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT ·
for their passages and are able to take care of themselves and their own interests prefer to embark, and it will be seen by the Harbour Masters' Report no less than 13,856 left this colony for Australia and California in the past year. I am quite of opinion that the stringency of the Chinese Passenger Act ought to be relaxed as regards emigrants paying their own passage, selecting their own vessels, and able to secure themselves against abductions and fraud. But with reference to hired labourers for the colonies I am thoroughly convinced that the grossest crimes, abominations, and abuses exist in the mode by which they are collected on the continent of China. It is perfectly true that there is in China a superfluity of labour, much misery, and difficulty of obtaining food, and that it would be a blessing both to China and to the countries to which this surplus labour should be transferred if means could be found for its transfer which would give security against the horrible practices of the crimps now engaged in the collection of emigrants, and against whom when discovered not only is public indignation so strong as frequently to expose them to assassination, but there have been several cases in which they have been condemned to death by the ordinary process of Chinese law. Such, however, is the temptation which extravagant premiums and profits offer to the Chinese brokers, and such the passion for money getting among the Chinese, especially when, as in the cases in question, there is more to be gained by craft and cunning than by persevering industry, that I am persuaded nothing but an understanding with the Chinese authorities on the whole subject of emigration, and their co-operation for the prevention and punishment of abuses, and for the protection of the emigrant himself, will ever place the Coolie shipments on a satisfactory basis. I think the period still remote in which the emigration of women can be anticipated. The failure of the plans which were some time ago adopted in the Philippine Islands, adjacent as they are, and covered with Chinamen, many of whom are rich and influential, and would lend them cordial aid in the introduction of their wives and families, show how little is to be hoped for in that respect. In the commercial capital of Manila (Binondo) I found by the census that there was only one Chinese woman and seven female children amidst about six thousand Chinamen. It was estimated a few years ago that Hong Kong would in 1858 be able to furnish 2,500 females to be married to Chinese Catholic converts in the Philippines. I have no reason to believe that a single one has been shipped for the purpose."
26: And if I may here be allowed an observation on the more general question, I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible imported labour should in the long run compete with the free labour of Eastern tropical countries, whose powers of production are now beginning to develop themselves. How should the West Indies, with no advantage of soil or climate, and to whom the cost of the labourer must be heavy, whether from the charge of introducing him or the value of his labour when introduced, how should they stand the rivalry of regions where every natural advantage is associated with the moderate pay and moderate profits of the native cultivator? In the countries I have visited, such as Siam, the Netherland, and the Spanish Eastern Archipelago, there are productive capabilities which, whenever they are assisted by capital and improved machinery, must place the West Indian Colonies at an immense disadvantage. In the course of a short time the agricultural element in China will probably receive a vast development. In two years, and with small advance in prices, China was able to fill the vacuum in the silk markets produced by the failure of the French and Italian crops, and to send to Europe in a single season for a value of nearly 10,000,000 sterling of raw silk. I believe her cotton-producing power to be enormous, and am surprised that more attention has not been given to China in the discussions which have often looked for a supply of this all-important raw material to regions whence only disappointment will come. The southern provinces of China have also great aptitudes for sugar production. I hope I may be excused this seeming digression.
27. I concur with the views of the Colonial Secretary as to the Legislative Council, and think its action must be more limited and defined. Since the arrival of Mr. Chisholm Anstey in the colony the character of the Council has undergone a marked change. Instead of a consultative body called in to assist the Government in the matters submitted to it by the Government, Mr. Anstey declared that he took his seat as an independent legislator, and not as a servant of the Crown, and that he was there, if he thought fit, to criticize and oppose the views of the executive. It has happened that when an ordinance has been prepared by Mr. Anstey, and when not a word of previous objection has been breathed by him in his official capacity, he has taken occasion to attack both Government and ordinance, and to do his best to lower the character and credit of the Government in the public opinion by his opposition. I have even known him in Council repudiate the authority of the Superior Law Officers of the
252
114
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841–1941
· REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT ·
for their passages and are able to take care of themselves and their own interests prefer to embark, and it will be seen by the Harbour Masters' Report no less than 13,856 left this colony for Australia and California in the past year. I am quite of opinion that the stringency of the Chinese Passenger Act ought to be relaxed as regards emigrants paying their own passage, selecting their own vessels, and able to secure themselves against abductions and fraud. But with reference to hired labourers for the colonies I am thoroughly convinced that the grossest crimes, abominations, and abuses exist in the mode by which they are collected on the continent of China. It is perfectly truc that there is in China a superiluity of labour, much misery, and difficulty of obtaining food, and that it would be a blessing both to China and to the countries to which this surplus labour should be transferred if means could be found for its transfer which would give security against the horrible practices of the crimps now engaged in the collection of cmigrants, and against whom when discovered not only is public indignation so strong as frequently to expose them to assassination, but there have been several cases in which they have been condemned to death by the ordinary process of Chinese law. Such, however, is the temptation which extravagant premiuins and profits offer to the Chinese brokers, and such the passion for money getting among the Chinese, especially when, as in the cases in question, there is more to be gained by craft and cunning than by persevering industry, that I am persuaded nothing but an understanding with the Chinese authorities on the whole subject of emigration, and their co-operation for the prevention and punishment of abuses, and for the prote-tion of the emigrant himself, will ever place the Coolie shipments on a satisfactory basis. I think the period still remote in which the emigration of women can be anticipated. The failure of the plans which were some time ago adopted in the Philippine Islands, adjacent as they are, and covered with Chinamen, many of whom are rich and influential, and would lend them cordial aid in the introduction of their wives and families, show how little is to be hoped for in that respect. In the commercial capital of Manila (Binondo) I found by the census that there was only one Chinawoman and seven female children amidst about six thousand Chinamen. It was estimated a few years ago that Hong Kong would in 1858 be able to furnish 2,500 females to be married to Chinese Catholic converts in the Philippines. I have no reason to believe that a single one has been shipped for the purpose."
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26: And if I may here be allowed an observation on the more general question, I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible imported labour should in the long run compete with the free labour of Eastern tropical countries, whose powers of production are now beginning to develop themselves. How should the West Indies, with no advantage of soil or climate, and to whom the cost of the labourer must be heavy, whether from the charge of introducing him or the value of his labour when introduced, how should they stand the rivalry of regions where every natural advantage is associated with the moderate pay and moderate profits of the native cultivator? In the countries I have visited, such as Siam, the Netherland, and the Spanish Eastern Archipelago, there are productive capabilities which, whenever they are assisted by capital and improved machinery, must place the West Indian Colonies at an immense disadvantage. In the course of a short time the agricultural element in China will probably receive a vast development. In two years, and with small advance in prices, China was able to fill the vacuum in the silk markets produced by the failure of the French and Italian crops,' and to send to Europe in a single season for a value of nearly 10,000,0004 sterling of raw silk. I believe her cotton-producing power to be enormous, and am surprised that more attention has not been given to China in the discussions which have often looked for a supply of this all-important raw material to regions whence only disappointment will come. The southern provinces of China have also great aptitudes for sugar production. I hope I may be excused this seeming digression.
27. I concur with the views of the Colonial Secretary as to the Legislative Council, and think its action must be more limited and defined. Since the arrival of Mr. Chisholm Anstey in the colony the character of the Council has undergone a marked change. Instead of a consultative body called in to assist the Government in the matters submitted to it by the Government, Mr. Anstey declared that he took his seat as an independent legislator, and not as a servant of the Crown, and that he was there, if he thought fit, to criticize and oppose the views of the executive. It has happened that when an ordinance has been prepared by Mr. Anstey, and when not a word of previous objection has been breathed by him in his official capacity, he has taken occasion to attack both Government and ordinance, and to do his best to lower the character and credit of the Government in the public opinion by his opposition. I have. çven known him in Council repudiate the authority of the Superior Law Oflicers of the
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