[
    {
        "id": 210857,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-1986",
        "page_number": 208,
        "title": "RAS-1986",
        "content_text": "191\n\nof the United States and for some time lived at Charlestown, South Carolina. His wife was an American woman. His dress was a bizarre combination of Western and Chinese modes.\n\nHe was an early arrival in San Francisco and operated for a time the Macau and Wosung Restaurant. His domination of the Chinese population was heavy-handed, but it was challenged by an equally colourful character, A-toy, the doyen of San Francisco's \"women of pleasure.\"\n\nThe transfer of leadership came just at the time the question of Chinese labour was becoming a political issue in California. A bill to introduce contract labour was put before the State Legislature. Due to a slump in available cheap labour, the merchants wished to import it from China.\n\nThe miners were strongly opposed. They viewed contract labour as capitalist exploitation of immigrants who would work under living conditions that free miners would not endure. Contract labour was regarded by them as an economic threat. This view appeared to be that of the political majority, and Governor Bigler addressed the legislature in April 1852, opposing the legislation of contract labour.\n\nHis address had been noted by the few Chinese who could read English. They, in turn, explained it to the general Chinese community.\n\nAs representatives of their fellow countrymen, Hab Wa of the Sam Wo Company and Tong A-chick of the Tun Wo Company published a letter replying to the Governor's remarks. In it, they emphasised the important economic contribution to the state made by the business of the Chinese merchants. They emphasised that Chinese immigrants were not coolies under contract but free labourers.\n\nThe letter did not stem the anti-Chinese feeling of the miners, but it did influence more of the American merchants to support the Chinese cause. This encouraged the Chinese in their efforts to win a hearing. They sent Tong A-chick to discuss this with Gover-",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-1986.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/jq08c7063",
        "rank": 0
    },
    {
        "id": 216176,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-2002",
        "page_number": 475,
        "title": "RAS-2002",
        "content_text": "By the terms of this Contract dated this \nday of ... 19 77, I, the undersigned coolie recruited by the Wai-Hai-Wei Labour Bureau, hereby declare myself to be a willing labourer under the following conditions, which have been explained and made clear to me by the Wai-Hai-Wei Labour Bureau, viz.:\n\nNature of Employment.\n\nWork on railways, roads, etc., and in factories, mines, dockyards, fields, forests, etc. Not to be employed in military operations.\n\nRules of Pay, etc.:\n\nDaily Abroad.\n\nLabourer ... 1 Dollar\n\nDanger ... ... 6 cents\n\nBonus (on embarkation). 15-20 dollars (additional to pay).\n\nMonthly in China to family, also.\n\nCompensation to Family in case of Accident.\n\nDeath or total disablement ... 150 dollars\n\nPartial Disablement ... up to 75 dollars\n\nAdditional ... ... 10 dollars\n\nFree passage to and from China under all circumstances.\n\nFree food, clothing, housing, fuel, light and medical attendance.\n\nDuration of Employment.\n\nThree years, with liberty for employer to terminate contract at any time after one year on giving six months' notice, or at any time for misconduct or inefficiency on the part of the labourer. Free passage to be given back to Wai-Hai-Wei or Port North of Wusung.\n\nDeductions.\n\nNo daily pay abroad during sickness, but food given. Monthly pay in China continues up to six weeks' sickness.\n\nAfter six weeks' sickness, no monthly pay in China.\n\nNo daily pay abroad for time lost owing to misconduct.\n\nIn cases of offenses involving loss of pay for 28 days or more, deductions of monthly pay in China will be made.\n\nHours of Work.\n\nObligation to work ten hours daily; but a lower or longer period may be fixed by the Labour Control on a daily average basis of ten hours.\n\nLiability to seven days' work a week; consideration will be given to Chinese Festivals, as to which the Labour Control will decide.\n\nNo. of Cooly 24499\n\nName ... Ar Jenny Jus\n\nAge ... 32\n\nProvince ... Ling\n\nDistrict ...\n\nHome address ...\n\nSeal of the Wai-Hai-Wei Labour Employment Office\n\nWai-Hai-Wei Labourer's thumb print ... San",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-2002.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mp4901278",
        "rank": 0
    }
]