No.
187
HONGKONG.
CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING CHILD ADOPTION AND DOMESTIC SERVICE AMONG CHINESE.
Presented to the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, on the 7th January, 1887.
(1)
Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to Secretary of State for the Colonies.
(Copy.) No. 79.
MY LORD,
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONGKONG, 22nd May, 1883.
I find that no reply has hitherto been sent to the despatch from your predecessor, Lord KIMBERLEY, No. 40,* of the 18th March, 1882, respecting alleged slavery among the Chinese at Hongkong.
2. It appears that this despatch was referred by the Administrator to Mr. RUSSELL, then Registrar General, but since created a Judge of the Supreme Court.
3. I have written to Mr. RUSSELL that I shall consider as of great value the opinion on this difficult, delicate and much controverted question of a gentleman of his ability and great experience, though he has ceased to be Registrar General. I have asked him moreover, to place himself in communication with the present Registrar General, Mr. STEWART.
4. So soon as I shall receive the reports of the above-mentioned gentlemen, I shall address Your Lordship again on this question.
The Right Honourable
THE EARL OF DERBY, $c.,
&c.,
&c.
(C. S. O. 1)
(2)
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
G. F. BOWEN.
·
REPORT ON CHILD ADOPTION AND DOMESTIC SERVICE AMONG HONGKONG CHINESE.
HONGKONG, 18th July, 1886.
In the correspondence respecting the alleged "Existence of Chinese Slavery in Hongkong," presented to both Houses of Parliament, by command of Her Majesty, in March, 1882, Lord KIMBERLEY, after referring to certain safeguards for the protection of children in Hongkong, in a despatch to the Governor, states: "But I am checked in the consideration of these and other propositions by my "uncertainty as to the facts of the system of child adoption and domestic service as it prevails in Hongkong, which are represented with the greatest diversity by "those who approve and disapprove of the system. I desire therefore that you will
* See Parliamentary Blue Book [C. 3185] of 1882.