CO129-370 - Governor Sir Lugard & Public Offices - 1910 [12] — Page 244

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"voicing a similar public opinion in China". To this consensus

of opinion among Chinese in Hongkong ad in Ching the Registrar General adds his own personal condemnation in the following words:- "The experience of this Goverment wince 1905 has es- tablished beyond doubt the existence of grave abuses, which the éloset supervision is unable to extirpato, and which damage the reputation of Hongkong throughout the neighbouring pro- vinces of China".

In the report of the Commission appointed by Your Excellency to enquire into Indentured Labour in the Federated Malay States i am informed that Ar. Barnos, Protector of Chinose, mado the following remarks:- "in the case of nourly every sinkheh recruited by a professional recruiter deceit is practised

The whole system of sinkheh labour in the traits is regarded in South China as a system of slavery, the victima of which ars invariably kidnapped. The planters.......aust steer clear of

the professional recruiter and make their contracts as different as possible from those now in use".

This consensus of opinion in my view calls for immediate consideration and i submit the following observations with confidence that four Excellency will co-oporate with me in every possible way to put an end the unsatisfactory condition

of affairs which is thus disclosed.

The economic welfare of the territory under Your Excellency's administration is dependent upon the supply of adequate manual labour, while the shipping of this Port is benefitted by the conveyance of exigrants. Excopt, however, in this indirect way the Colony of Hongkong dose not reap any

immediate advantage

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and is in fact put to a not inconsidorable

expense and trouble

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while the profits of the professional

recruiters and others engaged in the supply are admitted to be

enormous.

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