§ MR. LEVYTo ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state what were the offences in respect of which 332 Chinese labourers were repatriated up to December 31st last; what penalties, in addition to repatriation, were inflicted; whether all or any portion of the wages earned by such labourers was withheld or deducted; and whether such repatriated labourers were merely returned to the port of shipment, or if any means were afforded them of returning to their own homes.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) The great majority of labourers repatriated were probably returned as medically 1236 unfit, but I have no precise information beyond what has been published, and I will make inquiry. Meanwhile, reference may be made to the Ordinance (see pages 16 and 17 of Cd. 2026) and the Contract (see page 10 of Cd. 2183).