Directory_and_Chronicle_1907 — Page 133

EMIGRATION CONVENTION

BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CHINA RESPECTING THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHINESE LABOUR IN BRITISH COLONIES AND PROTECTORATES

(Signed in London, 13th May, 1904.)

Whereas a Convention between Her Majesty Queen Victoria and His Majesty the Emperor of China was signed at Peking on the 24th October, 1860, by Article V of which His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China consented to allow Chinese subjects, wishing to take service in British Colonies or other parts beyond the seas, to enter into engagements with British subjects, and to ship themselves and their families on board of British vessels at the open ports of China in conformity with Regulations to be drawn up between the two Governments for the protection of such emigrants:

And whereas the aforesaid Regulations have not hitherto been framed, His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, and His Majesty the Emperor of China have accordingly appointed the following as their respective Plenipot- entiaries, that is to say:

His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, the Most Honourable Henry Charles Keith Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marquess of Landowne, His Majestys' Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; and

His Majesty the Emperor of China, Chang Têh-Yih, Brevet Lieutenant-General of the Chinese Imperial Forces, His Imperial Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India:

And the said Plenipotentiaries having met aud communicated to each other their respective full powers, and found them in good and due form, have agreed upon and concluded the following Articles :-

Art. I.-As the Regulations to be framed under the above-mentioned Treaty were intended to be of a general character, it is hereby agreed that on each occasion when indentured emigrants are required for a particular British Colony or Protectorate beyond the seas, His Britannic Majesty's Minister in Peking shall notify the Chinese Government, stating the name of the Treaty port at which it is intended to embark them, and the terms and conditions on which they are to be engaged; the Chinese Government shall thereupon, without requiring further formalities, immediately instruct the local authorities at the specified Treaty port to take all the steps necessary to facilitate emigration. The notification herein referred to shall only be required once in the case of each Colony or Protectorate, except when emigration under indenture to that Colony or Protectorate from the specified Treaty port has not taken place during the preceding three years.

Digitized by

Google