CO129-377 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [5] — Page 96

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back to his home at once: if he proceeded on his voyage he

would know where he was going to, what work he was to do, who

(

his companions would be and the remuneration he would receive.

It will be some years before the Kangani

5.

system can be introduced and effectively in operation and until

it is, the Sinkheh system or one more or less similar to it

must remain in force in view of the pressure of the increased

demand for labour. But both in the interests of the coolie and

to ensure the complaissance of the Chinese Government, always

nervous about emigration, the system will require very careful

supervision, and probably considerable alteration. There is no

port on the coast of China which can be compared with Hongkong

in the pains taken to protect the labourer from imposition and

fraud, and no port which contains such a skilled emigration

staff, or one so closely in touch with the general Chinese

population. There are now in the service of the Colony a number

of Officers who are familiar with all the fraudulent devices of

recruiters, are alert to detect them, and are so accustomed to

the work of examination and the aspect of the emigrants that

they have attained great accuracy in recognising, without even

putting questions, the origin and occupation of the intending

emigrant. I am pleased to be able to say that the Hongkong

Emigration