Chinese Immigration.

Evening Star, Issue 7301, 27 August 1887, Page 6 (Supplement)

Chinese Immigration.

The Chinese Commissioners recently arrived at Cooktown, and were received by the leading Chinese merchants in official dress. Subsequently they stated to representatives of the Press that their instructions were to visit Sydney and Melbourne, but that their Government knew nothing whatever of their visit to Queensland. The curt reception of them by Sir Samuel Griffith seems to have given them umbrage. General Wong Ho expressed himself strongly on the injustice of raising the poll-tax to LIOO. He said that if Sir S. Griffith passed such an Act the Chinese Government would retaliate and insist on a revision ot the present treaty with England. When the Chinese were better understood he was satisfied they would receive more favorable terms. The majority of Chinese in Queensland were of an extremely low type, and not at all a fair sample of average Chinese. He considered Sir S. Griffithie remarks did not represent the actual opinion of the educated class of the Colony, and that his democratic "gush" was merely prompted by a desire to regain popularity. General Wong Ho believes the Chinese Government will make such representations to the Imperial Government on the matter of Chinese in Australia that they are unlikely to be ignored. At Townsville' deputations from the Charters Towers Miners' Union, citizens of Charters Towers and Townsville, and the Anti-Chinese League, met the Commissioners, and read an address protesting against the influx of Chinese, stating that Englishmen could not raise Chinese to their level nor descend to, the level of Asiatics, and they would make the Colony an undesirable residence for Chinamen. General Wong Ho responded at considerable length. He said the Chinese were decreasing in Australia, and were friends, not enemies. Sydney had been open 100 years, Melbourne 50 years, and they were not overrun with Chinese. When he returned to China something would be done for better or wersc.