695401-1875-Emigration-to-Acheen-Mr-GROENEVELDT-S-Letter-on- — Page 2

502

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 25TH DECEMBER, 1875.

(b.) Food on the following scale :-

Rice to satisfaction.

Beef,

Australian Meat,

Fresh Pork,

Bacon,

Dried Fish,

Coffee,

Salt,

Oil,

Firewood,

Pepper,

Chillies,

Vinegar,

Spirits,

Soap,

Tea,

kilogram daily.

....0.2 ..0.2

99

...0.2

..0.15

once a week. twice a week.

""

...0.2

.0.03

daily.

..0.025

**

.0.015

litre

19

...0.003

cubic meter daily.

0.0015 kilogram

"}

..0.002

""

19

.0.015 litre

""

..0.1

19

.0.03

kilogram

99

..0.008

"}

""

This is the rate of food supplied to the Chinese labourers in Acheen now, and I am further at liberty to make all alterations I think necessary and practicable.

(c.) Houses with the necessary furniture and cooking implements.

Wherever such an arrangement is practicable from the nature of the work, the labourers in Government pay will be encouraged to undertake it by the job, as a means of making their labour more profitable by a little more exertion. Those who engage in fishing or laying out vegetable gardens may equally, as soon as they think it profitable, relinquish their wages and sell the products of their labour to the garrison or the inhabitants of the place.

Emigrants working for the Government will have gratuitous medical assistance.

They may also leave a part of their wages to be paid to their families in China at one of H. N. M.'s Consulates.

The costs of passage of all Emigrants and other expenses incurred on their behalf, will be borne by the Government, and whether they work for the Government, set up for themselves, or leave the country again, in no case will they be called upon to reimburse them.

The wives and children of Emigrants will be allowed to accompany them at the expense of the Government, and on arrival in Acheen will be provided with suitable lodgings, but further the husband or father has to support them. As it would much suit the views of my Government to see a number of immigrants accompanied by their families, I have no doubt that, for some time at least, rations of food would be obtainable for the latter too, and I would make no difficulty to promise such provisionally for a couple of months.

If it is considered necessary to fix a certain time during which the Government guarantees to Chinese immigrants the employ described above, I am empowered to do so for a period of two or three years.

With regard to the present state of the country, it may perhaps not be superfluous to state, that the Government assures full and efficient protection to all immigrants, and those who shall be in Government employ will have all their property guaranteed against any hostile attack of the natives.

I think the details given above fully explain the object of my Mission; in case, however, anything might be thought insufficient or objectionable, I may add that I have full powers to make any alterations I think required and practicable.

I further hope to have convinced Your Excellency that my task is to establish a completely free Emigration, the emigrants being under no obligation whatever, whilst they are sure to find employ on very liberal terms, and that, therefore, it will not be against the regulations concerning Emigration established in the Colony.

With the highest regard and esteem,

I have, &c.,

(True Copy),

J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary.

(Signed), W. P. Groeneveldt,

Chinese Interpreter to the Government of Netherlands India.