CO129-488 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1925 [1-7] — Page 261

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(3) Gov.3241/24. Doms.H.K. from which it will be seen

Į

that the Hong Kong Government was authorised to permit the recruitment of Chinese indentured labour for the

pearl fisheries of Western Australia. From Gov/62550/23 however it will be seen that these coolies were to be recruited on terms similar to those engaged for Samoa and Nauru, and it appears from papers that this was not regarded as indentured labour (see 2493/25 under (2) above).

These exauples seem amply to bear out my view at B. I am the more inclined to avoid unfriendly treatment of Sarawak in view of the readiness displayed by the Sarawak Government to meet the wishes of His Majesty's Government on the Opium question (they have gone much further than HongKong and the Straits Settlements are prepared to do); and in view of the impression which Mr. Beatty and I got in the course of conversations with Captain Brooke at Geneva) that the Government of Sarawak is carried on with due regard

to the susceptibilities of the Chinese.

It seems to me that the proper course is for the conditions offered by Sarawak to be examined in a friendly manner with the Sarawak Government view to their further revision (if such is required), in order to remove the taint of indenture..

with a

I am afraid that I am not (and have been prevented by pressure of work from making myself) acquainted with the subject of indentured labour and I am not very clear as to where exactly "free" labour ends and indentured labour begins. It seems to re, however, that the negotiations might well be left to the Hong Kong Government.

Br. Agent 33061/N. Borneo seems to indicate

Sarawak that, without waiting for the Secretary of State's

concurrence

concurrence the HongKong Government has allowed some

>

coolies to leave for Sarawak; and it is possible that HongKong may regard the last sentence of draft in 25638 as convey ing the Secretary of State's sanction to proceed.

which

I would send 28544 (without enclosure he has already had) to British Agent asking him to inform the Government of Sarawak that the Secretary of State has learnt with satisfaction of the readiness displayed by that Government to amend the conditions of service which were regarded as objectionable; that Secretary of State has no doubt that the Sarawak Government will be quite ready to conform to the policy adopted in the Far Easter Colonies, (viz. the abolition of indentured labour) and will be prepared

to agree to such further amendments of the conditions

of labour as may be necessary to secure this; and that Secretary of State is prepared to leave the actual terma to be settled between Sarawak and HongKong, and that, provided the conditions are so amended to the satisfaction of the HongKong Government, the Secretary of State has no objection to that Government assisting

in the recruitment of labour for Sarawak.

and copy to Hong Kong short draft

and copy to Sarawak Government Office LF.

J.J. Paskin

7/8/25

33061 indicates that labourers are being already sent

geyy from H. Kong to Sarawak. 1 an inclined to

take no action, unless the flov, of H.k.

presses te to give a ruling as to the extent to

which the system of reoruitment at H.K. Lay