CO129-401 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [5-6] — Page 234

treatment of Chinese in Samoa, where they have been accorded the status of Europeans.

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4.

The recruiting ground for both these systems

of emigration stretches far inland from Swatow with the result that beyond a certain limited radius it is easier for the re- -cruited coolies to travel to Swatow by water via Hongkong than to go overland. In Hongkong these coolies are ostensibly passengers to Swatow, a port of less than seven days journey, and therefore free of the provisions of the Emigration Ordinance and under no supervision whatever unless they choose to live in registered Boarding Houses for Chinese emigrants, when they are subject to the Boarding House Regulations. At the same time it is, of course, well known that they are really assisted emigrants whose ultimate destination is Deli or Samoa. As a matter of fact

these emigrants as a rule go to the registered Emigration Board- -ing Houses and as it is better that they should go there than be soattered over the town in common lodging houses or in the houses of clansmen, I have allowed them to do so and to be there treated

as free emigrants.

5.

I venture to submit that from every point of

view it would be more regular and more satisfactory if this emigration to Deli and Samoa were permitted from this Port from

which it is practically conducted to an extent which it is im-

-possible to prevent. For if I were to endeavour to stop the coolies from travelling via Hongkong I should find it beyond my power to make the prohibition effective.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient,

humble servant,

Amay

Governor,&c.

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