The Hongkong Seligsopii.
HONGKONG, THURSDAY, JULY 21st, 1881.
NEWS for the ENGLISH MAIL.
Chinese Emigration to the Australian Colonies via Hongkong, has for a considerable time past caused our Government a great deal of anxiety and trouble. The subject is one of such wide spread importance, affecting the vital interests of so many different communities, and which has raised in Australia so many difficulties between opposing classes, that the greatest possible circumspection on the part of our local government, in carrying out the conditions of the Ordinances regulating Chinese Emigration from Hongkong, has been necessitated.
From the days of the infamous coolie traffic up to the present time, the eyes of the many philanthropic societies established in various parts of the world for the purpose of preventing abuses of a similar character, not only to Chinese but to other native races, have been steadfastly fixed on Hongkong as one of the great outlets of China, and it is quite certain that any infringement of, or deviation from the law, either sanctioned or permitted by the Executive of this colony would have called forth remonstrances of a character, from these influential bodies, backed up by public opinion, which no English Government could have ignored.
It is quite a common practice here, as doubtless it is in other parts of the globe, to write and speak of the Exeter Hall philanthropists in terms of the greatest contempt. Whether the gentlemen who interest themselves so much in the welfare of uncivilised nations deserve such opprobrious treatment is altogether a matter of opinion; but that, in their own way they have done a deal of good is beyond question.
No right thinking man would defend the now happily defunct Macao coolie trade, although even that abominable traffic in human beings existed for a considerable time, without greatly shocking that portion of the community who were commercially interested in the speculation. What was called the unjust treatment of Messrs. Olyphant & Co. by the Government in the well-known "Perusia" business a few years back, caused a great deal of commotion here, and excited much sympathy for that firm. What real grounds existed for that sympathy time has clearly shown.
There is no doubt whatever that the Nemesis, otherwise the Perusia, was merely the forerunner of what was intended to be a renewal of the coolie slave trade on a large scale, but under another name, between the South of China and the South American Republics. Recent accounts from Peru of the treatment the Chinese in that country have lately experienced vividly recall to mind the very worst days of negro slavery in the Southern States of the American Republic, and give us reason to be thankful that the action of this Government probably prevented thousands upon thousands of Chinese laborers from suffering similar degradation and cruelties; and in many instances a violent death.
The Chinese emigration from this port to the Australian Colonies resembles in many respects the emigration to San Francisco, and the results to both countries have generally coincided. One great difference, however, must be noted. Emigration to America, according to the laws of that country (vide Sections 2,158 and 2,162 of the Revised Statutes of the United States), is supposed to be free and voluntary in all respects; that to Australia has been tainted to a considerable extent by what is known as the contract system, which, with us in Hongkong under certain conditions, is perfectly legal.
According to Mr. Seward, ex-Minister of the United States at Peking, in 1866 a set of regulations regarding contract emigration was drawn up by the British and French Ministers at the Chinese capital, which received the approval of the Chinese Government. These regulations consisted of twenty-two articles, and were meant to insure regularity and fair dealing in the engagement of Chinese under contract in foreign countries. The seventh article which contains the gist of the regulations, reads as follows:-
"The contracts shall specify;- 1st. The place of destination, and the length of the engagement.
Page 510
Page 511
The Hongkong Seligsopii.
HONGKONG, THURSDAY, JULY 21st, 1881.
NEWS for the ENGLISH MAIL.
Chinese Emigration to the Aus- tralian Colonies via Hongkong, has for a considerable time past caused our Government a great deal of anx- iety and trouble. The subject is one of such wide spread importance, affecting the vital interests of so many different communities, and which has raised in Australia so many difficulties between opposing classes, that the greatest possible circumspection on the part of our local government, in carrying out the conditions of the Ordinances regulat ing Chinese Emigration from Hong- kong, has been necessitated. From the days of the infamous coolie traffic up to the present time, the eyes of the many philanthropic societies established in various parts of the world for the purpose of preventing abuses of a similar character, not only to Chinese but to other native races, have been stedfastly fixed on Hongkong as one of the great out- lets of China, and it is quite certain that any infringement of, or deviation from the law, either sanctioned or permitted by the Executive of this colony would have called forth re- monstrances of a character, from these influential bodies, backed up by public opinion, which no Eng- lish Government could have ignored. It is quite a common practice here, as doubtless it is in other parts of the globe, to write and speak of the Exeter Hall philanthropists in terms of the greatest contempt. Whether the gentlemen who interest them- selves so much in the welfare of un- civilised nations deserve such op- probrious treatment is altogether a matter of opinion; but that, in their own way they have done a deal of good is beyond question. No right thinking man would defend the now happily defunct Macao coolie trade, although even that abominable traffic in human beings existed for a con- siderable time, without greatly shock- ing that portion of the community who were commercially interested in the speculation. What was called the unjust treatment of Messrs. Olyphant & Co. by the Government in the well-known "Perusia" busi-
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504
C 0. 15775
RECE
REGO 5 SEP 30
ness a few years back, caused a great deal of commotion here, and excited much sympathy for that firm. What real grounds existed for that symp- athy time has clearly shown. There is no doubt whatever that the Ne- mesis, otherwise the Perusia, was merely the forerunner of what was in- tended to be a renewal of the coolie slave trade on a large scale, but under another name, between the South of China and the South American Re- publics. Recent accounts from Peru of the treatment the Chinose in that country have lately experienced vivid. ly recall to mind the very worst days of negro slavery in the Southern States of the American Republic, aud give us reason to be thankful that the action of this Government probably prevented thousands upon thousands of Chinese laborers from suffering similar degradation and cruelties; and in many instances a violent death.
The Chinese emigration from this port to the Australian Colonies re- sembles in many respects the em- igration to San Francisco, and the results to both countries have gener- ally coincided. One great difference, however, must be noted. Emigra- tion to America, according to the laws of that country (vide Sections 2,158 and 2,162 of the Revised Statutes of the United States), is sup- posed be free and voluntary in all respects; that to Australia has been tainted to a considerable extent by what is known as the contract system, which, with us in Hongkong under certain conditions, is perfectly legal. According to Mr. Seward, ex-Min- ister of the United States at Peking, in 1866 a set of regulations regard- ing contract emigration was drawn up by the British and French Min- isters at the Chinese capital, which received the approval of the Chinese
Government. These regulations con- sisted of twenty-two articles, and were meant to insure regularity and fair dealing in the engagement of Chinese uader contract in foreign countries. The seventh article which contains the gist of the regulations, reads as follows:-
"The contracts shall specify ;- 1st. The place of destination, and
the length of the engagement.
Page 510Page 511
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