sir,
447
38186
REC
Rw 30 0015
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Hongkong, 23rd.March, 1907.
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter No. 1449-112 (migration) of the 13th. ultimo, asking for information regarding the recent emigration of a
large number of British Indians from Hongkong to British
Columbia, and the influences which may have encouraged it.
2.
It would appear that in or about the year
1904 reports were circulated in this Colony regarding the for-
-tunes that were being made by Indians who had emigrated to
Canada, and others, chiefly old soldiers, began to follow. These
men were mostly of good appearance and physique, with a slight
knowledge of English, and they readily found employment of a
far more remunerative character than any to be obtained in Hong-
-kong or China.
3.
The report of these men's success in due
course reached the Punjab, and it is stated that, while no
notice was taken in the more prosperous districts, a stream of
emigrants of all ages and mostly of inferior physique started
from the poor and densely populated parts, with the result that
the supply soon exceeded the demand, and the labour market was
overstocked.A number of these anigrants were turned back on
arrival in Canada and the movement was checked.
4.
Men of good appearance and physique and with
a slight knowledge of English have no difficulty in obtaining
employment in Canada. A few go to Peru and the United States of
America, but none as far as can be ascertained to Panama. It
seems to have been merely a coincidence that the rush of Indian
emigration took place at the same time that recent work began
on the Canal.
5.
There does not seem to be any Agency here
or in America for recruiting natives from India. Amigrants
appear
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