HC Deb 25 October 1909 vol 12 cc736-7
Mr. WILLIAM THORNE

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he could state the number of Chinese seamen engaged through the mercantile office at Poplar during the quarters ended 30th September, 1908, and 30th September, 1909, respectively?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. H. J. Tennant)

The number of Chinese seamen of all ratings engaged through the Mercantile Marine Office at Poplar during the quarters ending 30th September, 1908, and 30th September, 1909, was 240 and 360 respectively. In order to avoid misapprehension, I should like to add that the figures at Poplar are quite exceptional, and afford no criterion as to the number of Chinese seamen engaged at Mercantile Marine offices in the United Kingdom. Of the 360 engaged during the quarter just ended 325 proved that they were British subjects, leaving only 35 of Chinese nationality.