Directory_and_Chronicle_1877 — Page 684

CHINESE PASSENGERS' ACT.

247

VII.-The contracts will be signed in each establishment in the presence of the inspecting officers. The day should be notified by the emigration agent to the consul of the nation to which he belongs. Each emigrant as he is brought up will be asked by the inspecting officers if he accepts the terms of his contract, and whether he is willing to sign. No contract can be signed at any time by the emigrant except with his full consent; and, after stating his willingness to sign and before signing, the contract will be read to the emigrant for the last time in presence of the inspecting officers. The advances stipulated for in the contract shall be paid to the emigrant at the time he signs his contract, and he will not then be allowed to quit the depôt, except with the special consent of the agent who engages him, and who will be at liberty to cause him to embark on the same day.

VIII.-A list in the annexed form, to be called a "Shipping List," shall be kept in each emigration house. The emigration agent will fill in the same as the emigrants have signed their contracts, and the signature of the inspecting officers to the emigrant's contract, and to the "Shipping List," at the foot of all the entries made on each shipping day, shall be the warrant of the emigration agent for the shipment of the said emigrants. As soon as the emigration agent reports to the inspectors that the ship has completed the embarkation of emigrants, the inspectors will close the "Shipping List " of the said vessel by certifying at the foot of it that all the emigrants therein-named have been engaged according to the regulations, and the emigration agent will at the same time pay into the Hai-Kwan Bank, as the cost of the inspec- tion, the sum of two dollars for each male adult named in the "Shipping List," and receive a receipt for this money, and will then immediately place the "Shipping List" in the hands of the Superintendent of Customs, who is charged by the Governor- General to see that every emigrant ship is visited by the Customs' officers as soon as the "Shipping List" is placed in their hands, and to issue the clearance of the ship when they shall have ascertained that no other emigrants than those named in the "Shipping List" are on board.

IX.-The Governor-General, in communication with the Consul, reserves to himself the power of demanding the surrender of an emigrant after embarkation, and if both see fit, of releasing him from his contract whenever circumstances, in their opinion, justify such a proceeding. In all cases in which an emigrant is restored on the demand of the Governor-General, the emigration agent will be repaid the advance received by the emigrant, and such additional sum, not exceeding eight dollars, to cover the expenses of clothing and maintenance, during the period of the emigrant's residence in the emigration house or on board ship.

X.-All persons employed by an emigration agent to collect emigrants must be registered at the offices of the Governor-General and the Customs, and receive a special pass from the former authorizing them to be so employed; nor is any bounty, pay, or head money, or remuneration of any kind to be paid by an emigration agent to any one bringing emigrants to his depôt, except such person be duly registered and authorized as aforesaid. The emigration agent will be held strictly responsible for any irregularity or infringement of law, or of regulations on the part of the subordinates.

XI.-The agents of emigration houses in Canton will obtain from the Custom- house authorities a certificate as to the general fitness of any vessels which have been chartered for the conveyance of emigrants from the port. The certificate will state the number of emigrants for whom accommodation is provided, the extent and quality of such accommodation, an opinion as to the seaworthiness of the vessel, and the number of boats carried. Until the certificate has been obtained, no agent will receive permission to embark emigrants on board any ship.

XII. It is in the power of the Governor-General and Consul to establish from time to time such further rules as may be judged necessary for the proper regulation of the emigration and the well-being of the emigrants.

XIII.-The infraction of any of the above, or other rules that may be established in the manner aforesaid, shall be punishable either by fine levied on the person conducting the emigration, on by closing the emigration house.