CO129-503-7 Chinese labour- recruitment for work in coal mines in Sarawak 17-9-1926 - 14-2-1928 — Page 42

J.

922/1919.

CONFIDENTIAL

sir,

Enclosure No. 2.

4°2

30th December, 1926.

The Honourable,

With reference to a letter C.P. No. 299/25

dated 20th September, 1926, from the secretary for Chinese Affairs, Singapore, to the secretary for

Chinese Affairs, Hong Kong, concerning the recruitment

of Chinese labour for work in the coal mines in

Sarawak, I am directed to inform you that such recruit- ment from this Colony has not yet been approved by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. It is therefore

essential that his consent should be obtained in the

first instance, and this has now been requested in a

confidential despatch, copy of which is enclosed for

your infonation.

2. Meanwhile I am to point out that the

indirect method of recruiting proposed is attended by

obvious difficulties and that careful consideration of

the terms of the contract will be necessary, particularly

of those relating to the repatriation of rejected and

time-expired emigrants.

3.

ho principal difficulties comected with

the suggested indirect method of recruiting are two:

firstly that while the recruiter's hands will be

The Colonial secretary,

strengthened

Singapore.