2nd. The right of the emigrant to be conveyed back to his own country, and the sum which shall be paid at the expiration of his contract to cover the expenses of his voyage home, and that of his family, should they accompany him.
3rd. The number of working days in the year, and the length of each day's work.
4th. The wages, rations, clothing, and other advantages promised to the emigrant.
5th. Gratuitous medical attendance.
6th. The sum which the emigrant agrees to set aside out of his monthly wages for the benefit of persons to be named by him, should he desire to appropriate any sum to such a purpose."
These regulations, based upon a set of rules which had been in force at Canton, under local sanction, for years, in the engagement of Coolies for the British Colonies, although apparently admirably suited to meet the requirement of the contract emigration of the present day, unfortunately were not approved of by the English and French Governments, and no general law has since been enacted, similar to that of the United States, to provide for the thorough examination of proposed emigrants, in order to determine whether they are voluntary emigrants or not. Hongkong has certain local regulations which apply, but as these hardly go far enough in many exceptional cases, and are not supplemented, so far as we are aware, by legislation in Australia, it is unquestionable that they in numerous instances fail to have the desired effect.
Ordinance 5 of 1874 provides for what is termed a double medical inspection of all emigrants under contracts of service, on shore before embarkation by the authorised medical officer, and afterwards on board the ship; and the Emigration Officer is forbidden to grant the certificate required by The Chinese Passengers Act 1855, unless he is satisfied that such examinations have been duly made, or dispensed with by the sanction of the Governor. It is further ordained that no contract emigrant can embark without a permit from the Emigration Officer, who is forbidden to issue the same unless he has proof that the emigrant has undergone on shore the medical examination prescribed by law.
Passenger brokers are bound under heavy penalties to give notice to the Emigration Officer, of every contract entered into with emigrants furnishing full particulars as to name, age, sex, and name of ship, and have to attend before him for the purpose of delivering the contract tickets to the passengers, the Emigration Officer in each case explaining to the emigrant the true intent and meaning of such contract.
Ordinance 5 of 1874 (Part I. sections 4 and 5), clearly defines the difference in law which exists between a Chinese passenger ship carrying free emigrants, and one carrying emigrants under contract of service. The owners or charterers of every Chinese passenger ship must give notice to the Emigration Officer that such a vessel has been laid on the berth for the conveyance of Chinese emigrants, specifying name of ship, destination and probable time of departure; and in all cases where such intending emigrants are under contracts of service, the depôt where these emigrants are to be lodged before embarkation must be stated. No Chinese passenger ship can proceed to sea without a license from the Governor, for which application has to be made before the vessel is laid on the berth, or before any depôt can be opened for the reception of Chinese emigrants, by the owners or charterers, who must furnish all particulars that may be required relating to the intended voyage, emigration, &c. It shall be lawful, however, for the Governor in Council to exempt from the above regulation, any mail steamers, or other vessels which are subject to the provisions of "The Chinese Passengers Act, 1855," provided that the Chinese passengers proceeding in such vessels be free emigrants and under no contract of service whatever."
The troubles which at different times have occurred in Hongkong between the Owners or Charterers of Chinese passenger ships and the local government, could hardly have been
Page 505
2nd. The right of the emigrant to be conveyed back to his own country, and the sum which shall be paid at the expiration of his contract to cover the expenses of his voyage home, and that of his family, should they accompany him.
3rd. The number of working days in the and the length of each
year, day's work.
4th. The wages, rations, clothing, and other advantages promised to the emigrant.
5th.-Gratuitus medical attend.
ance.
6th. The sum which the emigrant agrees to set aside out of his monthly wages for the benefit of persons to be named by him, should he desire to appropriate any sum to such a purpose."
These regulations, based upon a set of rules which had been in force åt Canton, under local sanction, for years, in the engagement of Coolies for the British Colonies, although apparently admirably suited to meet the requirement of the contract em- igration of the present day, unfor- tunately were not approved of by the English and French Gov- ernments, and no general law has since been enacted, similar to that of the United States, to provide for the thorough examination of proposed emigrants, in order to de- termine whether they are voluntary emigrants are not. Hongkong has certain local regulations which apply, but as these hardly go far enough in many exceptional cases, and are not supplemented, so far as we are aware, by legislation in Australia, it is un- questionable that they in numerous instances fail to have the desired effect. Ordinance 5 of 1874 provides for what is termed a double medical inspection of all emigrants under contracts of service, on shore before embarkation by the authorised med- ical officer, and afterwards on board the ship; and the Emigration Officer is forbidden to grant the certificate required by The Chinese Passengers Act 1855, unless he is satisfied that such examinations have been duly made, or dispensed with by the sanction of the Governor. It is further: ordained that no contract emigrant can embark without a permit from
the Emigration Officer, who is for- bidden to issue the same unless he has proof that the emigrant has un- dergone on shore the medical exami- nation prescribed by law. Passenger brokers are bound under heavy penalties to give notice to the Emi- gration Officer, of every contract en- tered into with emigrants furnishing full particulars as to name, age, sex, and name of ship, and have to at- tend before him for the purpose of delivering the contract tickets to the passengers, the Emigration Officer in each case explaining to the emigrant the true intent and meaning of such contract.
Ordinance 5 of 1874 (Part. I. sec- tions 4 and 5), clearly defines the difference in law which exists be- tween a Chinese passenger ship car- rying free cmigrants, and one car- rying emigrants under contract of service. The owners or charterers of every Chinese passenger ship must give, notice to the Emigration Officer that such a vessel has been laid on the berth for the conveyance of Chinese emigrants, specifying name of ship, destination and probable time of departure; and in all cases where such intending emigrants are under contracts of service, the depôt | where these emigrants are to be lodged before embarkation must be stated, No Chinese passenger ship can proceed to sea without a license from the Governor, for which ap- plication has to be made before the vessel is laid on the berth, or before any depôt can be opened for the re- ception of Chinese emigrants, by the owners or charterers, who must fur- nish all particulars that may be re- quired relating to the intended It shall voyage, emigration, &c. be lawful, however, for the Governor in Council to exempt from the above regulation, any mail steamers, or other vessels which are subject to the provisions of "The Chinese Pag- sengers Act, 1355," provided that the Chinese passengers proceeding in such vessels be free emigrants and under no contract of service whatever”
The troubles which at different times have occurred in Hongkong between the Owners or Charterers of Chinese passenger ships and the local government, could hardly have been
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