CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 634

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.] 632

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[30911]

*

[August16.]

SECTION 2.

[AMENDED COPY.]

No. 1.

Lord Li Ching-fong to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received August 16.) Your Excellency,

Chinese Legation, London, August 14, 1909. I HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that I have received telegraphic instructions from the Wai-wu Pu in Peking directing me to approach your Excellency on the subject of the present position of Chinese subjects in the Dominion of New Zealand.

In the year 1908 the New Zealand legislature passed an Act entitled the Immigration Restriction Act," with an addition in the same year called the Immigration Restriction Amendment Act,” On reading the provisions contained in the said Acts, I cannot refrain from remarking that the restrictions they impose upon Chinese subjects appear very oppressive and indiscriminating. With the exception of officers or crews of Chinese vessels of war, as provided for in clause 41 of Part III of the principal Act, all other classes of Chinese subjects are precluded from visiting that prosperous colony of the British Empire unless they are willing to submit themselves to certain proceedings derogatory to their dignity and self-respect.

As New Zealand is within easy distance of China, and has made great progress within the last generation in the development of various industries and also in her economical conditions, it would be to the advantage of both countries if facilities were afforded to Chinese subjects to visit that dominion, not only for the purpose of encouraging trade, but also for intellectual studies.

With this object in view the Chinese Government have had this matter under consideration for some time, and have now arrived at the conclusion that the present might be considered an opportune time to approach the Government of New Zealand for the negotiation of some change in their laws regulating the immigration of Chinese subjects into their dominion.

I am now instructed, therefore, by my Government to enclose herewith, for your Excellency's information, a memorandum of the proposed modifications on the existing immigration rules of New Zealand, and my Government would feel deeply gratified if your Excellency could see your way to exercise such a favourable influence in the matter as would contribute to the settlement of this important question in the sense desired.

I have, &c.

LI CHING-FONG.

Inclosure in No. 1.

Memorandum of Proposed Modifications in the New Zealand Regulations for the Immigration of Chinese.

CHINESE officials, students, and merchants with capital shall be granted the same privileges and facilities in landing at any port of New Zealand as are granted to the subjects of other Powers who have treaty relations with England: Provided they can produce passports issued by competent Chinese authorities certifying as to his status and condition, such passports to be viséd by English consuls or otherwise duly authorised English officials.

2. Auy Chinese subject who has been resident in New Zealand for over 3 years, and who is well known to have been engaged bond fide in any respectable business, can have his wife and family brought from Cliina to New Zealand to reside with him, and his wife and family may be allowed to land without paying any tax or submitting themselves to the language test, if they can produce a passport or passports issued by a competent Chinese authority certifying that they are in fact the wife and family of the aforesaid Chinese subject.

[2391 q-

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