CO129-515-7 Recruitment of Chinese labour for Sarawak 7-12-1928 - 8-4-1929 — Page 28

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Telegram to Tsingtao No. 13 of December 5th, 1928.

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Your telegram No. 25.

Hongkong Government who had been approached

by the Spanish authorities recently recommended that

British shipping should be permitted to take part in

this traffic but the Colonial Office refused to authorise

on the grounds that as these labourers are to be under

contract they are not "free emigrants" within the

terms of Hong Kong Ordinance No. 30 1915 and therefore

Consuls in China Ports cannot legally issue clearances

for British ships carrying them.

2. It may not be possible legally to prevent

Cornabe Bokford or Stewart from participating in the

scheme but it is obviously undesirable in the circum-

stances that British subjects should be concerned therein

and their participation would be even more undesirable

if it is the case that the Nanking Government objects.

NEWTON.