CO129-441 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [1-3] — Page 104

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confidence. Its leading members had no knowledge of emigration business and their methods were not altogether satisfactory. In

consequence recruiting by it gave little success and Lieutenant

Colonel Truptil was obliged to ask for the assistance of this

Government.

4.

After close investigation of the matter I

came to the conclusion that in the interests of successful re-

-cruiting and of the good name of this Colony in South China in

all matters connected with emigration, it was impossible for this Government to bolster up the Li Man Company and that official assistance must be withheld unless a new organisation were

established.

Accordingly I instructed the Secretary for

Chinese Affairs to inform Lieutenant Colonel Truptil that while

this Government was onxious to do all in its power to further the

recruiting upon which he was engaged, it was absolutely necessary that he should employ other agents approved by me.

5.

In the result a new organisation has, with

the concurrence of Lieutenant Colonel Truptil, been established,

under the general superintendence of Mr. Liang Shih-yi, who

retired some time ago from public life in China, and is now

resident in this Colony, and of the two Chinese Members of the

Legislative Council. The syndicate has taken the name of Wei Man

and the form of Contract formerly settled for recruiting in the

North has been adopted. Recruiting is proceeding sotisfactorily,

and the Observation Station at Laichikok is being used as a

depot for housing the coolies prior to embarkation.

6.

I enclose six copies of the Contract, under

which