[
    {
        "id": 217959,
        "series_id": 27,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine",
        "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案",
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        "document_key": "CO129-004 - Public Offices & Admiralty - 1843",
        "page_number": 240,
        "title": "CO129-004 - Public Offices & Admiralty - 1843",
        "content_text": "Four \n\nPAPERS RELATIVE TO EMIGRATION OF \n\nCHINESE of Mauritius on the subject of labour, dated 22nd January, 1842, which, on LABOURERS. the contrary, justly regards the permanent welfare of the enfranchised negroes as dependent upon the preservation of \"the fixed capital at present existing in the sugar colonies;\" and further declares that, \"without the aid to be drawn from a foreign supply of labour, much of that capital will become comparatively useless,\" and that in addition to the very serious loss attendant on such an extinction of property, would be the still greater evil that the colonies must retrograde in wealth and civilization beyond the power of recovery within any assignable period.\" Nearly two years have elapsed since that Despatch was presented to Parliament; the proprietors in these colonies, confidently trusting that the principles it so clearly explains would long ere now have been applied to their relief, have continued the struggle, at enormous sacrifices, to maintain their cultivation; and still the remedy is denied. It is possible, indeed, that the appear- ance of partial success, resulting from the costly efforts which have been made under this expectation, may have had some influence in retarding the concession; and it would almost seem that nothing short of the actual abandonment of their properties will prove that they have been cultivated at a loss. This Committee will now only add to the representations they have already made on this head, that they are prepared to furnish your Lordship with any evidence, or to enter upon any investigation, that may be required to confirm them. If it could have been believed that Her Majesty's Government would persist in the prohibitory policy hitherto pursued towards the West India Colonies, the capital and credit which have partially sustained them would at once have been withdrawn, and the truth rendered manifest. \n\nWhether immigration may be successfully encouraged, and from what sources immigrants may come, are questions separate from the permission to convey them. Adverting to the Despatch to which I have already referred, I beg to assure your Lordship that the West India body cordially accept the rule there laid down, that all emigrants shall be, in the fullest sense of the term, free agents.\" They cannot, however, regard Her Majesty's Indian subjects as enjoying this freedom of action while they are prohibited from entering into engagements which they con- ceive, and which certainly would be, for their advantage. Free agency should have the same meaning in the East as in the West Indies. Neither can the people of Africa, who are settled in the British possessions, or who are willing to resort thither for embarkation, be considered as free agents under the existing restrictions. With regard to Africa, I cannot but deeply regret to learn that the impression your Lordship has received from a perusal of the evidence taken last year is directly opposed to the conclusions which this Committee have drawn from it. In justification of my former reference to this subject, I beg leave to submit to your Lordship the accompanying brief abstract from the evidence. \n\nWith regard to the Order in Council, dated 4th January last, my only motive for alluding to it was, that a measure which might seem to be a relaxation of the general restriction imposed by the Order in Council of 7th September, 1838, should not be omitted in the enumeration I then made. The terms are- No contract of service shall have any force or effect, unless the same shall be signed in the presence of some officer or person in Her Majesty's service, previous designated for that purpose by one of Her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State.\" Until such designation should be announced, it was of course impossible to make any attempt to act upon the permission granted. In the communication now received in Mr. Hope's letter, no mention is made of the United States, where there appears to be greater probability that persons of\" African birth or descent\" may be found willing to enter into agreements for service in the West Indies. But these are not sources from which either immediate or extensive immigration can be expected. \n\nThis Committee having become acquainted with your Lordship's decision respect- ing the introduction of Chinese emigrants from the British settlements in the Straits of Malacca by the Circular No. 3, published by the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, several of the parties who were anxious to attempt a cominence- ment of this emigration applied for licences; but, on carefully examining the regu- lations prescribed, it appears to be impracticable to enter into contracts without incurring considerable expense and risk. The licences have therefore, I under- stand, been transmitted, with instructions to use them only in case the people shall be disposed to proceed to the West Indies without any contracts, and suitable vessels, with medical officers, can be found to convey them at the rate fixed; which, \n\nCHINESE LABOURERS TO THE WEST INDIES. \n\nafter deducting the requisite advance to the labourers, it is feared will not present an adequate inducement. This source also will, therefore, probably remain un- available. \n\nThe momentous question, whether the staple products of tropical countries can be raised as effectually and as advantageously by the labour of freemen as by that of slaves,\" can never be brought to a fair trial, until the freedom of the em- ployer be as fully established as the freedom of the labourer,-and emancipation cannot be pronounced successful until that question be satisfactorily solved. In conclusion, I must acquit this Committee of their duty to those whom they repre- sent, by earnestly declaring to your Lordship their conviction-founded upon an intimate knowledge of the actual state of the West India colonies,--that without an immediate and extensive supply of labour their agriculture and trade must still further decline, and your Lordship's prediction touching their social condition be unfortunately verified. \n\nI have, &c. \n\nThe Right Hon. Lord Stanley, &e. &c. &c. \n\n(Signed) \n\nCHARLES CAVE, Chairinan. \n\nEnclosure in No. 19. \n\nABSTRACT of Evidence relative to the possibility of encouraging a successful Emigration from the West Coast of Africa to the West India Colonies.* Evidence of WM. HAMILTON, a Purser in the Navy, who was for upwards of three years in the Liberated African Department. \n\n4558. Thinks 20,000 people might be removed, with great advantage to the colony itself.\" \n\n5473. \n\nEvidence of H. W. MACAULAY, Judge of the Mixed Commission Court. \n\nI see no reason to doubt that a large number of the liberated Africans may eventually \n\nbe induced to remove to the West Indies.\" \n\nyears. \n\nCHINESE LABOURERS. \n\nEnel. in No. 19. \n\nEmigration from \n\nEvidence of LOGAN HOOK, Collector of Customs at Sierra Leone for fifteen 8231.\" As regards Sierra Leone, I think that we could spare from 10,000 to 15,000 of Sierra Leone. these liberated Africans with very great ease, and with benefit to themselves.\" \n\nIt appears, by Dr. Madden's report, which in that particular has not been questioned, that the managers of villages are not reluctant to employ any authority with which they are invested. He says, (at folio 5), \n\n\"If the liberated Africans were not a patient race, inured to suffering and accustomed to privation, it certainly would be impossible to keep the population that is located in the villages in their places. They would abandon their farms, (?) and flock to Free-town to look for bread.\" \n\nYet to the persons who keep the people in this state of bondage are they required to resort to give notices and receive explanations; and they are taught by the regulations of Her Majesty's Government to regard them as their protectors. \n\nEvidence of WM. HAMILTON, \n\n4607-4611. Thinks if wages were to rise in Sierra Leone, persons would come from up Emigration from the country to fill the places of those who went: they are a fine, healthy, strong set of countries adjacent people.\" \n\n4612. \"A great many do come in at present, both from Timmanee and the Sherboro country.\" \n\n4741. \"Sir John Jeremie expected the emigration to the West Indies would be more than made up by immigration from the interior.\" \n\nEvidence of LOGAN HOOK. \n\n8244. \"The Mandingoes, who inhabit the North Bank on the Bollam Shore, are indis- posed, I think, to emigrate.\" \n\nN.B. Several Mandingoes have since arrived in Trinidad, and are to return to make a \n\nfavourable report. \n\n* This abstract was purposely confined to the evidence of official persons, except as regards the Gambia, in respect to which such testimony could not be obtained; but the witnesses cited in that instance are con- firmed by the Report of Governor Huntley. \n\nto Sierra Leone. \n\n! \n\nPage 240Page 241",
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    {
        "id": 594394,
        "series_id": 27,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine",
        "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "CO129-617-6 Development- recommendations of Hong Kong Colonial Development and Welfare Committee 18-7-1947 - 23-12-1947",
        "page_number": 13,
        "title": "CO129-617-6 Development- recommendations of Hong Kong Colonial Development and Welfare Committee 18-7-1947 - 23-12-1947",
        "content_text": "## Page 6\n\nFood parcels have been sent from the Colony.\n\nAt the distribution recently by the Fiji War Fund Board of balances remaining in the general fund, £7768 was allocated to the Lord Mayor of London's National Flood Distress Fund, £5,000 was allocated to the Benevolent Fund of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers' Association, Fiji, and over £800 was provided for canteen and recreation facilities for the Colony's peacetime armed forces.\n\nOver 500 letters of thanks have been received for parcels posted under the Fiji Gifts to Britain scheme.\n\n## SCOTTISH FISH STOCK TANGANYIKA RIVERS TERRITORY GOVERNMENT NOW FINANCES SCHEME\n\nThis year Tanganyika Territory Government voted the Forest Department £200 to continue a scheme for stocking the rivers with trout, which was begun, in 1926, by the late Major Sandwith, with Scottish trout ova.\n\nToday, the rainbow trout introduced in 1926 flourish in the many rivers of the territory but the brown trout, introduced at the same time, have since disappeared after only 12 years in these waters. Both species were obtained from the Solway Fisheries, Dumfries, Scotland.\n\nTanganyika Territory has two Clubs interested in trout fishing; the Magamba Club founded in 1923 and the Mkusu Flyfishers Club founded in 1929.\n\nMajor Sandwith, aided by other enthusiasts such as Mr. D.K.S. Grant and the late Messrs. W. F. Baldock and J. Simmance, built a hatchery in the tributary of the Mkusu river running near the Magamba Club house to set the scheme going.\n\nBut now the stocking of the rivers will be under the control of the Forest Department and the good work done by these pioneers will be enjoyed by many fishermen throughout Tanganyika Territory.\n\n## SOCIAL WELFARE'S CHILDREN'S LUNCH CLUB\n\nIn January this year, Singapore Social Welfare Department was provided with funds by the Government to supply a daily meal to needy children between the ages of two and six at various centres throughout the town.",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-617-6 Development- recommendations of Hong Kong Colonial Development and Welfare Committee 18-7-1947 - 23-12-1947.txt",
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