Sessional_Paper_1908 — Page 281

JA

184

J

On the suggestion of the Protector of Chinese at Singapore, when the examination of an emigrant raises suspicions but does not justify detention full details of her statement are given on the Passenger List. In not a few instances the statements can be verified easily on the arrival of the emigrant at her destination, and detention here to enable enquiries to be made in China is unnecessary. Table III a shews the destination of emigrants; there is at present small probability of any abuse arising in connection with emigration to places other than the Straits Settlements. 49 or 0.31 per cent. of the women and children examined before embarkation were detained for enquiries as against 35 or 0.32 per cent. in 1906. Ten cases were still under consideration at the close of the year. Of the remaining 39, 15 or 38 per cent. were ultimately allowed to leave without any order being made, as against 19 per cent. in 1906. 94 per cent. of the emigrants examined were going to the Straits Settlements.

(ii.)—Male Emigration.

Male emigration has been very carefully supervised during the year. A number of ships taking Third Class passengers to the Straits Settlements have been inspected, and from the 1st November the emigration of labourers has been satisfactorily supervised by the adoption of measures agreed upon at a conference held in March with Mr. BARNES, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs in the Straits Settlements. A probable change in the Emigra- tion Law was foreshadowed by me in my annual report for 1905, but it was decided to take no steps until an opportunity had been given of discussing the whole question in personal conference with some officer from the Straits Settlements. This opportunity occurred in March last when Mr. BARNES passed through the Colony and an arrangement was come to, by which no im nigrant to the Straits Settlements from Hongkong would be permitted to enter into a labour contract unless he had appeared before the Registrar General before embarkation.

It is too soon to say what effect the new arrangement will have on the volume of enigration, but everything so far has worked smoothly. The examining officer has detected a number of cases of misrepresentation and fraud, and has rejected a number of youths and men physically unfit for work at the nines. This Office is in constant communication with the Protectorate of Chinese in Singapore and it is hoped that with a little more experience all but a few cases of fraud will be eliminated. A number of Chinese gentlemen who have served as members of the Board of Direction of the Po Leung Kuk have undertaken to in- spect the emigrants when they present themselves for examination, and they commence their duties at the beginning of 1908. There is no doubt that their assistance will be of the greatest value.

A Bill to give legal sanction to the present arrangement and to remove from the Emi- gration Ordinance those portious of Ordinance No. 37 of 1901 (original number) which proved valueless as well as burdensome has passed the Legislative Council. As the precau- ious which the bill will place under the sanction of the law have shewn their usefulness and effectiveness in a trial of three months, it is not premature to say that the Government will now find itself at last in a position to discover and check any serious abuses that may, arise. In future, "assisted emigrants ", i.e., those who get their passages to the Straits Settlements paid with the intention of working under contract on their arrival there, will be separated from the bulk of the emigrants, who require no special protection, and the examination of them will be transferred from the Harbour Department to the Registrar General's Department. The men are examined on their arrival in the Colony, photographed and again examined before embarkation and every opportunity is given them of learning where they are going and of changing their mind if they so wish and going home. A full report on the work done under this head has been made by the Assistant Registrar General,

During the year, 51 hotel-licences and 34 emigration-house licences were issued. The boarding-houses are those which are made use of by assisted emigrants". Hotels are pa- tronised not only by intending emigrants but by visitors to Hongkong-both men and wonen. From the subjoined table a comparison can be made between the number of houses licensed and the accommodation provided at the close of the two years 1906 and 1907.

Licensed on 31st December, 1906.

Accommodation for boarders.

Licensed on 31st

December, 1907.

Accommodation for boarders.

Hotels.......

47

2,714

48

3,505

Emigration

houses,..

29

412

24

498