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 57

racial problems;

he did not think it would necessarily

involve a prohibition of recruitment of Chinese labour

for territories where it was already an establisned

institution.

Mr.Tait said that he was only concerned with the

recruitment of Chinese for Western Samoa and Nauru island.

He understood that, especially in Nauru Chinese labour was

absolutely essential there and the Dominion Governments

would most certainly be disturbed if any attempt was made

to prevent recruitment. He said that the Cabinet had the

facts about Western Samoa before them when they made their

decision about the New Hebrides and as they did not suggest

any alteration, presumably they had no objection to

recruitment for Samoa continuing.

Mr.Cowell said that Chinese labour was equally

essential for Ocean Island.

Mr.Ellis said that Sir Gibert Grindle had raised

the question of possible repercussions in China, and he

asked what these were likely to be.

Mr.Southorn said that he did not think any

responsible elements in China would be likely to bring

this up against us.

Mr.Mounsey confirmed this. He did not think we should

worry about any repercussions in China.

Mr.Boyd pointed out that the International Labour

Office was interesting itself in the question of indentured

labour and that "forced and indentured labour" were two of

the subjects which were to appear on the Agenda of the

International Labour Conference 1929.

Mr.Southorn explained that indentured labour

was not allowable in Hong Kong. That is, every

emigrant going through Hong Kong must be legally

a free emigrant. Whether he was economically free

to