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Canadian PM conveys official apology
(AP)
Updated: 2006-06-23 07:17 
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper presents Ralph Lee and other
Chinese 'head tax' survivors a copy of the government's official apology in
Ottawa, Thursday, June 22, 2006. More than a century ago, Canada forced tens of
thousands of Chinese who helped build the nation's railroads to pay a 'head tax'
to stay in the country and bring in their families. The head tax, which started
in 1885 at $50 and grew to $500 by 1903 _ then two years' wages for Chinese
laborers _ was collected from some 81,000 Chinese immigrants. Collections ended
in 1923, when immigration from China was banned; Canada began admitting Chinese
again in 1947. [AP]
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