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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2nd JUNE, 1866.
ARTICLE V.
Every Emigration Agent shall be held responsible under the laws of his country for the due execution of the clauses of the contract signed by him until its expiration.
ARTICLE VI.
Every Chinese employed by the Emigration Agent to find him Emigrants, shall be provided with a special License from the Chinese Authorities, and he alone will be responsible for any act done by him in the above capacity that may be, whether intentionally or unintentionally in contravention of the Laws of the Empire.
ARTICLE VII.
Every Chinese wishing to emigrate under an engagement shall cause his name to be entered in a Register kept for that purpose, in the presence of the Emigration Agent and of an Inspector deputed by the Chinese Government. He will then be at liberty to return to his home or to remain in the Emigration Depôt to wait the departure of the ship which is to carry him
to his destination.
The contracts shall specify :-
*
ARTICLE VIII.
1st. The place of destination and the length of the engagement.
2nd.--The right of the Emigrant to be conveyed back to his own country, and the sun which shall be paid at the expira- tion of his contract to cover the expense of his voyage home and that of his family should they accompany him.
3rd. The number of working days in the year and the length of each day's work.
4th.-The wages, rations, clothing and other advantages promised to the Emigrant.
5th.-Gratuitous medical attendance.
6th. The sum which the Emigrant agrees to set aside out of his monthly wages for the benefit of persons to be named by him, should he desire to appropriate any sum to such a purpose.
7th.-Copy of the 8th, 9th, 10th, 14th and 22nd Articles of these Regulations.
Any clause which shall purport to render invalid any of the provisions of this Regulation is null and void.
ARTICLE IX.
The term of each Emigrant's engagement shall not exceed five years, at the expiration of which the sum stipulated in the contract shall be paid for him to cover the expense of his return to his country. In the event of his obtaining permission to remain without an engagement in the colony, this sum will be placed in his own hands.
It shall always be at the option of the Emigrant to enter into a second engagement of five years, for which he shall be paid a premium equivalent to one-half the cost of his return to China. In such a case the sum destined to cover the expense of his return home shall not be paid until the expiration of his second engagement.
Every Emigrant who may become invalided and incapable of working shall be allowed without waiting for the expiration of his contract, to claim before the legal Courts of the colony or territory where he may be, payment on his behalf of the sum destined to cover the expense of his return to China.
ARTICLE X.
The Emigrant shall in no case be forced to work more than six days out of seven, nor more than nine hours and a half in the day.
The Emigrant shall be free to arrange with his employer the conditions of work by the piece or job, and of all extra labour undertaken during days and hours set apart for rest.
The obligation on holidays to attend to cattle or to do such service as the necessities of daily life may demand, shall not be considered as labour.
ARTICLE XI.
No engagement to emigrate entered into by any Chinese subject under twenty years of age, will be valid unless he produce a Certificate from the proper Chinese Authorities stating that he has been authorised to contract such engagement by his parents, or, in default of his parents, by the Magistrate of the Port at which he is to embark.
ARTICLE XII.
After four days but not less, from the date of the entry of the Emigrant's name on the Register of the Ageucy, the Officer deputed by the Chinese Government being present, the Contract shall be read to the Emigrant, and be shall be asked whether he agrees to it, and having answered in the affirmative he shall then and there append his signature thereto.
ARTICLE XIII.
The Contract once signed, the Emigrant is at the disposal of the Agent, and must not absent himself from the Depût without the permission of the Agent.
Before embarking, every Emigrant shall be called before the Officer deputed by the Chinese Authorities to ratify his Contract, which shall be registered at the Consulate.
Twenty-four hours before the sailing of the ship, the Emigrants shall be mustered on board before the Consul and the In- spector of Customs, or their deputies, and the list shall be finally closed for signature and registration by the Consul and the Inspector.
Any individual refusing to proceed after this muster shall be bound to repay the expenses of his maintenance in the Emigration Depôt at the rate of One hundred cash (one tenth of a Tael) per diem. In default of payment he shall be handed over to the Chinese Magistrate to be punished according to the laws.
ARTICLE XIV.
Any sum handed over to the Emigrant before his departure shall only be regarded in the light of a Premium upon his engagement. All advances upon his future wages are formally forbidden except in the case of their being appropriated to the use of his family, and the Consul will take especial pains and provide against their being employed in any other way. Such advances shall not exceed six months' wages and shall be covered by a stoppage of one dollar per month until the entire debt shall have been paid.
It is absolutely forbidden, whether on the voyage or during the Emigrant's stay in the Colony or Territory in which he may be employed, to make any advances to him in money or kind payable after the expiration of his engagement. Any agreement of this nature shall be null and void, and shall give the creditor no power to oppose the return of the Emigrant to his Country at the time fixed by the Contract.
ARTICLE XV.
The Emigrant during his stay in the Depôt shall be bound to conform to the Regulations adopted for its internal economy by the Consul and the Chinese Authorities.
ARTICLE XVI.
Any Emigrant who may be riotous or guilty of any misconduct shall be immediately locked up until the arrival of the Officers deputed by the Chinese Authoritics, to whom he will be handed over to be punished in conformity with the laws of the Empire; the Officers of the Agency being in no case authorised to take the law into their own hands and inflict any punishment.
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