RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1986 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/jq08c7063 191 of 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. He 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." The 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. The 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. His address had been noted by the few Chinese who could read English. They, in turn, explained it to the general Chinese community. As 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. The 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- ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2002 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mp4901278 By the terms of this Contract dated this day 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.: Nature of Employment. Work on railways, roads, etc., and in factories, mines, dockyards, fields, forests, etc. Not to be employed in military operations. Rules of Pay, etc.: Daily Abroad. Labourer ... 1 Dollar Danger ... ... 6 cents Bonus (on embarkation). 15-20 dollars (additional to pay). Monthly in China to family, also. Compensation to Family in case of Accident. Death or total disablement ... 150 dollars Partial Disablement ... up to 75 dollars Additional ... ... 10 dollars Free passage to and from China under all circumstances. Free food, clothing, housing, fuel, light and medical attendance. Duration of Employment. Three 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. Deductions. No daily pay abroad during sickness, but food given. Monthly pay in China continues up to six weeks' sickness. After six weeks' sickness, no monthly pay in China. No daily pay abroad for time lost owing to misconduct. In cases of offenses involving loss of pay for 28 days or more, deductions of monthly pay in China will be made. Hours of Work. Obligation 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. Liability to seven days' work a week; consideration will be given to Chinese Festivals, as to which the Labour Control will decide. No. of Cooly 24499 Name ... Ar Jenny Jus Age ... 32 Province ... Ling District ... Home address ... Seal of the Wai-Hai-Wei Labour Employment Office Wai-Hai-Wei Labourer's thumb print ... San ================================================================================