CO129-159 - Sir Kennedy - 1872 [9-12] — Page 359

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

These last statements appear precise.

Nevertheless, Emigration from Hongkong to the United States by the Mail Steamers to San Francisco has continued without interruption and the numbers carried have been very large.

The Government of Hongkong justify this principally on the expression in the Foreign Office Letter of 25 Aug 1862 that Emigrants should not be allowed to proceed to countries where their condition could not be followed throughout their whole servitude, and to the opinion in the report from this Board of 21 Apr. 1870, that there was no sufficient ground for interference with the Emigration to the United States. It seems clear, however, that whatever inference might be drawn from those expressions was overruled by Lord Granville's instructions of 30 May 1870.

The question now for decision is whether the Emigration from Hongkong to San Francisco should be allowed to continue. On the one hand, it may be said that it is impossible to stop it, that to prohibit it from Hongkong would only divert it to Macao or Canton; that if so diverted, it would not be as well conducted or supervised as at present - while the removal of the mail Steamers from Hongkong to Macao or Canton would be seriously inconvenient, and probably injurious, to the mercantile interests of Hongkong.

On the other hand, it may be answered that the Emigration from Hongkong to the United States is not really a free Emigration, that the bulk of Emigrants do not pay their own passages but are paid for either by their Employers or countrymen or by their friends in America under promises of repayment out of their earnings; that in this way, it is virtually an Emigration under Contract of service, and that if it is permitted to the United States, it would be difficult to prohibit it to other Countries where the Emigrants would not be well treated.

If the decision rested with me, I should be disposed to allow...

Page 357

Edit History

2026-05-20 20:48:04 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
Live
View comparison
AI Proofread
These last statements appear precise. Nevertheless, Emigration from Hongkong to the United States by the Mail Steamers to San Francisco has continued without interruption and the numbers carried have been very large. The Government of Hongkong justify this principally on the expression in the Foreign Office Letter of 25 Aug 1862 that Emigrants should not be allowed to proceed to countries where their condition could not be followed throughout their whole servitude, and to the opinion in the report from this Board of 21 Apr. 1870, that there was no sufficient ground for interference with the Emigration to the United States. It seems clear, however, that whatever inference might be drawn from those expressions was overruled by Lord Granville's instructions of 30 May 1870. The question now for decision is whether the Emigration from Hongkong to San Francisco should be allowed to continue. On the one hand, it may be said that it is impossible to stop it, that to prohibit it from Hongkong would only divert it to Macao or Canton; that if so diverted, it would not be as well conducted or supervised as at present - while the removal of the mail Steamers from Hongkong to Macao or Canton would be seriously inconvenient, and probably injurious, to the mercantile interests of Hongkong. On the other hand, it may be answered that the Emigration from Hongkong to the United States is not really a free Emigration, that the bulk of Emigrants do not pay their own passages but are paid for either by their Employers or countrymen or by their friends in America under promises of repayment out of their earnings; that in this way, it is virtually an Emigration under Contract of service, and that if it is permitted to the United States, it would be difficult to prohibit it to other Countries where the Emigrants would not be well treated. If the decision rested with me, I should be disposed to allow... Page 357
Baseline (Original)
these last struchont appear precise Mever the less Emigration from incough. sughong to the United States by the Mail Steamers to Pan Francisco has continued wisitiont interruption and the numbers carried have been very large. The Government of stongkong justify this principally On- the expression sin the Foreign Office Latter of 25 Auf 1862 should not be allowed. nd that Emigrants to proceed to countrice where thing caund be followed throughout their whole servitude" and to the opinion the report from this board of 21 Apl. 1870. that there was no enfficient ground for interference with the smigration to the United States. St sums clear however that whatever in = drawn from Those ex pereme might be drawn presione was overruled by bord Gran = -villes instructions of 30 May 1870. The question now for decision is unether the Emigration from stonesong to San Francisco should be allowed to continue. On the one hand it may be said that it is imposible to stop it that to prohibit it from Hongkong would only divert it to Macao. Canton that if so diverted it would will conducated not be as will a vvised em 357 or super- as at present - while the removal of the mail Steamers from tongkong to Macao or Canton would be seriously inconvenient, and probably injurions, to the mercantile intereeld of stongtong. On the sher be answered that the hand it may Enigration from tongthong to the Hurited states is not really a free the th ration that the bulk of Emigration to do not pay their own Endgrants do not papages but are paid for wither by their Employers own countrymen or bre in America under promises of repayment out of their earnings. that in this may it is virtually an susigration under Contract of service, and that if it is permitted to the United States it would be difficult to prohibit it to Bern or Mher Countrice where the Emigrants would not be well treated, of the decision rested with me I should be disposed to allow
2026-05-20 20:48:04 · Baseline
View content

these last struchont appear precise

Mever the less Emigration from incough.

sughong

to the United States by the Mail Steamers to Pan Francisco has continued wisitiont interruption and the numbers carried have been

very large.

The Government of stongkong justify

this principally

On-

the

expression

sin

the Foreign Office Latter of 25 Auf 1862 should not be allowed.

nd that Emigrants to proceed to countrice where thing caund be followed throughout their whole servitude" and to the opinion the report from this board of 21 Apl. 1870. that there was no enfficient ground for interference with the smigration to the United States. St sums clear however that whatever in =

drawn from

Those ex pereme might be drawn presione was overruled by bord Gran = -villes instructions

of 30 May 1870. The question now for decision is unether the Emigration from stonesong to San Francisco should be allowed to continue. On the one hand it may be said that it is imposible to stop it that to prohibit it from Hongkong would only divert it to Macao. Canton that if so diverted it would

will conducated

not be as will

a

vvised

em

357

or super-

as at present - while the removal of the mail Steamers from tongkong to Macao or Canton would be seriously inconvenient, and probably injurions, to the mercantile intereeld of stongtong. On the sher

be answered that the

hand it

may

Enigration from tongthong to the Hurited states is not really a free

the

th

ration that the bulk of Emigration

to do not pay their own Endgrants do not

papages but are paid for wither

by their Employers

own

countrymen or bre

in America under

promises of repayment out of their earnings.

that in this may

it is virtually an susigration under Contract of service, and that if it is permitted to the United States it would be difficult to prohibit it to Bern or Mher Countrice where the

Emigrants would not be well treated,

of the decision rested with me I should be disposed to allow

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.