YELLOW REFUSE DUMPED

NZ Truth, Issue 1150, 15 December 1927, Page 8

YELLOW REFUSE DUMPED

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Sydney Representative.) In unfolding the dramatic tale of the recent smuggling into Australia of Chinese aboard the Dutch steamer Almkerk, Customs officers produced agreements between the smuggling gang at Hong Kong and their agents. These documents disclosed how the smuggled men were committed to the payment of huge sums as the price of their entry into Australia. For being captain of the ship in which the Chinese were found, the Almkerk's skipper, Van Keulen, was fined £SOOO.

THE hearing of the charge of having concealed prohibited immigrants against No. 1 fireman of the Almkerk, proved conclusively the existence of an international smuggling syndicate. Customs officers found in possession of this fireman, who had a cabin to himself, two Chinese documents. Translated, they read: "Agreement made by Wong Ngon, March 28 at Ingmow, New Chinese Republic. Agreement with Wong Ngon Agency to land immigrants in Sydney. The agent, Wong Sheer Ngon received 800 Tow Heong people as follows: "14 Louey Hock Goon, 2 Hock 80, 3 Hock Chung, 4 Gee Lick, 5 Sheer Tai, 6 Goon Chang, 7 Yee Kee, 8 Mew Ding, 9 Jow Hock, 10 Jung Fooh, 11 Gow On, 12 Git Sing. "Twelve men from Hong Kong to go in boat and depart. Wong Sheer Ngon agrees to provide, good food and look after them on the voyage and land them safely in Sydney without any trouble. "Bach man promises to pay Wong Sheer Ngon 2200 dollars (Hong Kong money). This price cannot be reduced.

The money is to be paid in three instalments —first payment 200 dollars, second payment 300 dollars. Total of the two lots, 500 dollars. "If the men are not landed at Sydney or only get half way and have to return to Hong Kong the money paid by Louey Hock Goon for the men will be returned by Wong Sheer Ngon. Wong Sheer Ngon will refund the 800 dollars to each man in accordance with this agreement. "Each, man is to pay 200 dollars in Hong Kong. On arrival at Holland each man will pay 300 dollars" Second document read as follows: "Ingmow, Chinese Republic, April 29, 1927. Duty department. This agreement must be stamped according to value. Stamp Hong Kong duty, 20 cents. Agreement made between Wong Ngon and Louey Hock Goon. Received by Wong Ngon in settlement, 3400 dollars, Hong Kong money. i "It is understood between us that the person will be landed safely in Sydney, and the money is paid, but if anything goes wrong and the man is returned to Hong Kong the

money will be returned in full to Louey Hock Goon without any agreement.. "Stamped with seal. Tin Hing Loong, Hong Kong. Witness. Wong Doon Hong." Five stowaways gave evidence against the fireman. They said he forced them down into tanks with a sledge-hammer and a shovel. One described the whole brutal affair by dumb-show, showing the men being hammered down, kicked and beaten. The fireman was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined £IOO or 250 days. The men said that their photos were taken in European clothes on board for passports. Louey Joy, one of the stowaways, said he had a brother in Singapore called Louey Hock Goon. This brother was the man mentioned as the second agent in the documents. The charge against Elder, Smith and Co., as agents for the vessel, was with- I drawn on the request of the Customs Department. i