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Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
hongkong, 14th. August, 9040.
34644
IREC TREC 19 SEF OF
i have the honour to hand you herein, for the information of
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His Excellency the Governor, copy of letter from Wessrs. Dodwell & Co. Lt., calling the attention of the Chamber to the disadvantages under which British Shipping labours as compared with that of other nations in the shipping of contract Chinese labour from China to ports other than British, and of free emigrants on voyages of over 30 days furation.
the present laws do not permit the carriage of contract labour in British Ships from ports in China, nor do they allow for the carriage of free emigrants for a voyage of over 30 days duration. They were framed when the conditions ander which emigration was carried out
called for stringent regulations to prevent slave traffic.
Within recent years however the speel and equipment, of
steaders has undergone a great change for the better, and vessels engaged in the passenger trade are usually replete with conveniences, especially such as enable good food to be supplied during long voyages.
A cuses that existed before cannot recur now owing to the stringent supervision by the duly appointed Eritish baleration ufficers and to
the publicity which the press so quickly give to all matters relating to any untoward incidents. In these lays of competition British ship-
owners would not lare to run the risk of earning a bad reputation or of incurring penalties through 111 treatment of emigrants or from supply-
ing pad food on the voyage.
it appears that at the present moment contract Chinese
ccolie labour is required in Mexico, and there is little doubt that an
enormous demand will also spring up very shortly in connection with the Fanama Canal. These requirements will naturally call for the employment
the honourable
the Colonial Secretary.
of
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