CO129-536-2 Recruitment of Chinese labourers for Samoa 26-5-1931 - 29-1-1932 — Page 2

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cony

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3.9.

Corres relating

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complant by the Chinese. Authorities with

li

regard

are

who

by the

large

numbers of

labourers

vcruited

and

subsequently

lar

rejected for work

Requesti obsons.

Samoa.

This has been delayed owing to difficulty

in collecting earlier papers.

A somewhat similar protest by the Chinese

authorities was made in 1924. See Dominions

56803/24 and connected papers up to 37882/25

in Dominions Office bundle herewith.

It was

then maintained that the practice of recruitment

of Chinese labour for Samoa was illegal and contrary

to the Anglo-Chinese Convention of 1904. It was

held here that the Convention did not apply, for

various reasons

-

see Mr. Price's Minute of the

7th of February, 1925 on 2493/25. The most

important point is that we contend that these

labourers are not indentured.

The same considera-

tions still apply, and I think we can take the line

that the Convention may be ignored.

is attached.

A copy of it

On this occasion the Chinese have also

criticised the management of the boarding houses

in which the intending emigrants are lodged while

They allege that excessive payments

in Hong Kong.

are demanded.

The Hong Kong authorities deny

that any payments at all are exacted from intending

emigrants