CO129-142 - Public Offices & Others - 1869 — Page 107

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

105

China under Contract to work for a number of years in the Chincha Guano Islands in Peru and also in Cuba and elsewhere. A.C. is notorious, and the fact is established upon incontrovertible evidence in the possession of H. Majesty's Government in Downing Street or at Hong Kong and portions of which have been laid before Parliament, that the majority of these Chinese Emigrants were either Kidnapped or deluded into signing Contracts framed expressly to deceive them, and of the real nature of which they were utterly ignorant.

The mortality on board during the passage to their destination and after their arrival was frightful, and the survivors were subjected to the most brutal treatment at the hands of their Masters. Many succumbed perished through insurrections on the voyages which were not infrequently fatal to the slavers themselves; cruel suicides both on board and after landing were caused by the cruel treatment of the coolies. Slave trading and Kidnapping were always illegal by Chinese law, and the indignation occasioned in Portugal at the revelation of the abominations committed in the Formosa trade has within the last three years caused that branch of it, at least, to be prohibited at Macao. We are constrained to say that it has therefore been transferred to Swatow and elsewhere.

It will also be known to your Lordship, that in order to promote voluntary emigration to British Colonies and to protect the Emigrants, an Act was passed in 1855 entitled "The Chinese Passengers Act", which was subsequently modified by local law in the Colony of Hong Kong by Ordinance.

Your Memorialists believe that the regulations under which Emigrants are allowed to engage themselves in Hong Kong for service in British Colonies are, on the whole, tolerably efficient, and render compulsory or fraudulent contracts almost impossible. Emigrants, on arrival at their destination, are protected by British Colonial Law, and are at full liberty to return, if they please, to their native Country, when their Contract expires.

Page 106

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105 China under Contract to work for a number of years in the Chincha Guano Islands in Peru and also in Cuba and elsewhere. A.C. is notorious, and the fact is established upon incontrovertible evidence in the possession of H. Majesty's Government in Downing Street or at Hong Kong and portions of which have been laid before Parliament, that the majority of these Chinese Emigrants were either Kidnapped or deluded into signing Contracts framed expressly to deceive them, and of the real nature of which they were utterly ignorant. The mortality on board during the passage to their destination and after their arrival was frightful, and the survivors were subjected to the most brutal treatment at the hands of their Masters. Many succumbed perished through insurrections on the voyages which were not infrequently fatal to the slavers themselves; cruel suicides both on board and after landing were caused by the cruel treatment of the coolies. Slave trading and Kidnapping were always illegal by Chinese law, and the indignation occasioned in Portugal at the revelation of the abominations committed in the Formosa trade has within the last three years caused that branch of it, at least, to be prohibited at Macao. We are constrained to say that it has therefore been transferred to Swatow and elsewhere. It will also be known to your Lordship, that in order to promote voluntary emigration to British Colonies and to protect the Emigrants, an Act was passed in 1855 entitled "The Chinese Passengers Act", which was subsequently modified by local law in the Colony of Hong Kong by Ordinance. Your Memorialists believe that the regulations under which Emigrants are allowed to engage themselves in Hong Kong for service in British Colonies are, on the whole, tolerably efficient, and render compulsory or fraudulent contracts almost impossible. Emigrants, on arrival at their destination, are protected by British Colonial Law, and are at full liberty to return, if they please, to their native Country, when their Contract expires. Page 106 (No text associated with "Off" and "ΤΩ Τ" as they appear to be unrelated to the main content or possibly OCR errors/fragmented text.)
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Off 105 China under Continet to work for a town of years in the Chincha er Guano Islands in fleur and also in Cuba and eleckere ._ A. is notesious, and the fact L is established upon incontrovertible evidence in the possession if H. Majesty's Government in Fawning Street or at Hong King and portoirs of which have been laid before Parliaments that the majority of these so Chisiese Einigrants were either Kidnapped : or deluded into signing Contrasts framed. called expressly to dessive then, and of the real, nature of which they The mortality dvere. utterly ignoranty board during The passage to their destination and after their arrival. there was frightful, and the survivors wvere subjected to the most brutal treatment at the hands of their Masters Learyad sucumbers perished through insurrections on the toyages which were not infrequently futal to the slavers themselves; cruc suicides both on board and after landing caused by the cruel treatment of the coolies occurrence. Slave trading were of and Riderapping tvere always illegal by. Chinese low and the indignation occasioned. av C in Pestigal. al at the revelation of the abweities committed in the Fermoran braide has within the last three years Caused) that branch of it, at least to be prohibiteds at Macao.. We askained to say that, it has therefore been transferred to Shing Heng.- ar It will also be known to your lordship, that in order to promote volunterry emigration: to British Colonies and to protect the Einigrants, aur Aet was cutituled "The Chinese as passed in 1855 Passengers Act", which, subsequently modified by local law in the Colony of Ordinance khung những کی مد شد Your Memorialists believe that the -regulations under which Emigrants alloived to engage themselves in Hong tong for service in British Colonies, are, on the whole, tolerably efficient, cand render compulsory, or fraudulent contacts Moreover the almost impossible. Einigrants, GŁE on ee C. arrived at their destination. protected by British Eglonial Sew, and are at full liberty to retour, if they please to their native Country, woken their Contract B: } G ΤΩ Τ
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Off

105

China under Continet to work for a town

of years in the Chincha

er

Guano Islands in fleur and also in Cuba and eleckere ._ A. is notesious, and the fact

L

is established

upon incontrovertible evidence in the possession if H. Majesty's Government in Fawning Street or at Hong King and portoirs of which have been laid before Parliaments that the majority of these so

Chisiese Einigrants

were either Kidnapped : or deluded into signing Contrasts framed.

called

expressly to dessive then, and of the real,

nature of which they

The mortality

dvere.

utterly ignoranty

board during

The passage

to their destination and after their arrival. there was frightful, and the survivors wvere subjected to the most brutal treatment at the hands of their Masters

Learyad

sucumbers perished through insurrections on the toyages which were not infrequently futal to the slavers themselves; cruc suicides both on board and after landing

caused by the cruel treatment of the coolies occurrence. Slave trading

were

of

and Riderapping

tvere

always illegal by. Chinese low and the indignation occasioned.

av

C

in Pestigal.

al at the revelation of the abweities committed in the Fermoran braide has within the last three years Caused) that branch of it, at least to be prohibiteds at Macao.. We askained to say that, it has therefore been transferred to Shing Heng.-

ar

It will also be known to your lordship, that in order to promote volunterry emigration: to British Colonies and to protect the Einigrants,

aur

Aet was

cutituled "The Chinese

as passed in 1855 Passengers

Act",

which, subsequently modified by local

law in the Colony of

Ordinance

khung những

کی مد شد

Your Memorialists believe that the -regulations under which Emigrants

alloived to engage themselves in Hong tong for service in British Colonies, are, on the whole, tolerably efficient, cand render compulsory, or fraudulent contacts

Moreover the almost impossible. – Einigrants,

GŁE

on ee

C.

arrived at their destination.

protected by British Eglonial Sew, and are at full liberty to retour, if they please to their native Country, woken their

Contract

B:

}

G

ΤΩ

Τ

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