1917

EMIGRATION CONVENTION
Between the United Kingdom and China eespecting the Employment op
Chinese Labour in British Colonies and Protectorates
(Signed in London, 13f/i May, 1904)
■Whereas a Convention between Her Majesty Queen Victoria ,and His Majesty
the Emperor of China was signed at Peking on the 24th .October, 1860, by Article V.
of which His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China consented to allow Chinese
subjects, wishing to take service in British Colonies or other parts beyond the seas,
to enter into engagements with British subjects, and to ship themselves and their
families on board of British vessels at the open ports of China in conformity with
Regulations to be drawn up between the two Governments for the protection of such
emigrants:
And whereas the aforesaid Regulations have not hitherto been framed, His-
Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the
British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, and His Majesty the Emperor
of China have accordingly appointed the following as their respective Plenipo¬
tentiaries, that is to say :
His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of
the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, the Most Honourable
Henry Charles Keith Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marquess of Lansdowne, His Majesty’s
Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs ; and
His Majesty the Emperor of China, Chang Teh-Yih, Brevet Lieutenant-General
of the Chinese Imperial t'orces, His Imperial Majesty’s Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor
of India ;
And the said Plenipotentiaries having met and communicated to each other their
respective full powers, and found them in good and due form, have agreed upon and
concluded the following Articles :—
Art. I.—As the Regulations to be framed under the above-mentioned Treaty
were intended to be of a general character, it is hereby agreed that on each occasion
when indentured emigrants are required for a particular British Colony or Protectorate
beyond the seas, His Britannic Majesty’s Minister in Peking shall notify the Chinese-
Government, stating the name of the Treaty port at which it is intended to embark
them, and the terms and conditions on which they aie to be engaged; the Chinese
Government shall thereupon, without requiring further formalities, immediately
instruct the local authorities at the specified Treaty port to take all the steps
necessary to facilitate emigration. The notification herein referred to shall only be-
required once in the case of each Colony or Protectorate, except when emigration
under indenture to that Colony or Protectorate from the specified Treaty port has
not taken place during the preceding three years.