The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-05-14
EMIGRATION FROM HONG KONG TO
HONOLULU.

At the annual meeting of the Hong Kong
Chamber of mmer held a few weeks ago,
the following discussion on this subject occurred:
Mr.. He AMEI-I don't know whether 1 have
a right to propose anything, being a new mem
Der, but 1 think ] may perhaps be permitted to
do so in reference to a matter that tends to the
interests of the colony. 1 propose that a repre-
s~entation be made to His Excellency the Gov
ernor asking that the restriction some time ago
put on emigration to Honolulu may be done
away with. The trade is being carried on now
by Chinese alone in Canton, and L don't see
why the emigration should not be carried on
from here. l understand the Governor says
that if emigrants go to other than British pos
sessions the Government cannot protect them,
and it is not the intention of the Government
to allow emigration from this port except to
places under British rule. l certainly agree
with the Government In the stopping of the
former emigration to Cuba, where the emigrants
were badly treated, but emigration carried on
openly by the Chinese to Honolulu under the
eyes of the Chinese Government don't see
why that should be stopped from this port. This
colony depends q great deal on emigration. l
know when / was "a youth here at school this
Colony was quite deserted. 1t was only subse-
quently, after the war, and when emigration to
California was going on, that the people hocked
here. Emigrants passing through here bring
trade, they require the necessaries of life, and
as they have to remain here for some little time,
their lodging increases rents. All this tends to
the benefit of the Colony. 1 think, therefore,
that as long as we find they are not badly treat
ed we ought to allow emigration to Honolulu.
His Excellency thinks 1t is contract emigration,
but l believe many of you, gentlemen, coming
from England, are under contracts to a certain
extent. So long as they are only under con-
tracts to go there and do their work and receive
their pay, I don't see why that should be con-
sidered improper emigration. l think we ought
to represent this subject fairly to His Excellency
the Governor, with a request that he would
bring the matter to the notice of the home Gov
eminent and endeavOr to have the restrictions
removed, we always, of course, taking care the
emigrants do not go to places where they are
badly treated, the same as the Chinese Govern
ment does, which sends people to Honolulu to
find out whether they are badly treated or not.
The restriction was only imposedin consequence
of a letter addressed to the Tung Wah Hospital,
without any name to it. Can We take that as a
foundation of truth on which to stop emigra-
ton ? If the representation to the Tung Wah
Hospital had been properly signed and chopped
by people well known in the place we might re-
Iy on there being some truth in it, and take
some action in the matter. The charterer of
the vessel in reference to which that letter was
written lost SO, 600, [ believe, and the business
has all been carried on at Canton since. / don't
see why emigrants should not go to Honolulu,
or any other place, so long as we know they are
not badly treated.
MIR. SHARP-I have much pleasure, Mr.. Chair
man in seconding the proposition. Emigration
is a very important thing for this Colony. A
great deal of trade rests upon it. No doubt there
have been great improprieties connected with
emigration from Macao, but that is no reason
why Hongkong harbor should be closed
against emigrant ships, provided, as the mover
has said, the parts towards which emigration
is directed are those where it is known emigrants
are we'll treated, as we have every reason to be-
lieve they are in the Sandwich Islands. The
remark he has made with regard to contract
emigration applies to the people who emigrate
from England to Hongkong as much as to
those who emigrate from China to Hawaii; we
are almost all contract emigrants; nine out of
ten of us are; and therefore there is in itself no
object to contract emigration. / believe all
the emigration to the United States is contract
emigration that to Australia is not contract
emigration, but it is pretty much the same in the
one case as the other, and L can see no objection
to emigrate ships being allowed to load in this
harbor.
The CHAIRMANlI should like to remark,
gentlemen, in connection with this subject, that
1 entirely sympathise with the remarks made by
the mover of the proposition. [ am aware from
representations that have been made to me, that
the condition of emigrants to Honolulu Is in
every respect a desirable and good one. They
are treated with consideration, they acquire
wealth, and they in every respect improve by
leaving China, and many of them return to China
well-to-do. The King of the Hawaiia Islands is
at the present time on his way to this Colony,
with a view, | understand, to considering this
very subject. His tour, l understand, will e-
tend to the Eastern countries from which it is
likely that emigrants can be obtained, and his
desire is to obtain emigrants accompanied
by their families. He will be in the COLONY
before long, and L think the opportunity is a
good one for this Chamber to express to the
Governor its opinion with regard to emigration,
especially with regard to Honolulu, connected
with which L believe there can be no grievance
whatever.-CHear, hear.)
The motion was then put in the following
form-"That this Chamber memoralise the
Governor to withdraw the restriction on emil
grafton from Hongkong to Honolulu"
Carried unanimously.