CO129-347 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [4-6] — Page 269

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4.

In so far as the question of the

carriage of indentured Chinese coolies is concerned, the

matter stands as follows:-

Under the existing law such

coolies may not be conveyed in British Ships even though

the two Government concerned viz.:- the Chinese Govern-

-ment and the Government of the Country to which the

emigrants are bound are consenting parties. British

Ship-owners as Your Lordship is aware contend that as a

consequence a considerable legitimate carrying trade is

lost to them.

5.

From the point of view of the

emigrant the result is that instead of embarking from

Hongkong (where the supervision is infinitely better than

at Chinese Ports, and where every safeguard is employed

to protect the ignorant coolie from fraud), or instead of

coming under the cognizance and supervision of the British

Consul at a Treaty Port as they would if they travelled in

British Ships subject to the requirements of the British

Law of 1855 and the Hongkong Ordinance, they are compelled

to travel in Foreign Vessels subject to no emigration

regulations, and to very cursory supervision. So much has

this become the case that coolies rejected at Hongkong are

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