CO129-509-6 Recruitment of Chinese labour in Hong Kong for work in North Borneo and Spanish guinea... 27-3-1928 - 27-12-1928 — Page 51

Copy.

CONSULATE FOR SPAIN,

HONG KONG

Enclosure No. 2.

51

The Colonial Secretary,

Dear Sir,

Hong Kong, 17th April 1928.

Referring to our conversation of yesterday, regard-

ing Mr. Juan Mencarini's special mission on behalf of the

Spanish Government to recruit 2,000 Chinese labour emigrants

for the Colony of Spanish Guinea, on the West Coast of

Africa. I have the honour to enquire from you which would

be the necessary formalities required by the British Colonial

Government to allow the emigration from Hong Kong.

Mr. Mencarini's plans are to recruit the emigrants

from Southern Chinese Ports, and have them shipped to Fernando

Po direct from here, hence to the mainland Spanish Guinea.

The proposed inducements offered by the Spanish

Government to the emigrants are:-

First: free transportation and subsistance for the

immigrant and his family, from the point he may have to be

recruited to Spanish Guinea.

Second: A reasonable advance in money to his

family, if left behind, before he leaves his village.

Third: A free gift in cash as a further inducement

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on his embarking.

Fourth:- a three year contract, fran time of his

arrival at destination, to work in the fields, the products

of which to be divided in a proportion to be agreed upon (say

fifty-fifty) between the labourer and the Spanish Colonial

Government

Hon. Mr. E. R. Hallifax, C.M.G., C.B.E.,

Colonial Secretary,

Hong Kong.