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"institute a full and trustworthy inquiry into the facts, forwarding to me, as soon "as it can be completed, a report thereon, and I request that in connexion with "such report the question may be considered whether any and if so what measures "should be taken to remove any of the evils that may be brought to light by the "inquiry." (Command paper 3185 of 1882, page 123).
In illustration of the diversity of opinion which prevails as to the facts, Lord KIMBERLEY points out that "Sir JoUN SMALE never heard of a case of purchase for adoption in the Colony," whilst Dr. EITEL spoke of the demand for young children under the system of adoption and domestic service as being large at an average price of $40, and that Mr. FRANCIS stated "that boys are bought and sold in Hongkong for adoption."
In reporting upon the facts of child adoption and domestic service it may be convenient to group what observation I have to make under four heads, as follow:
Where the parents or guardians volun- tarily part with their children.
(i. Child adoption as existing among Chinese at Hongkong, male
and female; abuses connected therewith.
ii. Domestic service amongst Chinese living in Hongkong, con-
fined to females only; abuses connected therewith.
iii. Kidnapping; as partly chargeable to the Chinese system of
adoption or service.
iv. Suggestions for the prevention of abuses growing out of child
adoption and domestic service.
I.
Adoption of male children in China is founded on the necessity of having a male representative to perform sacrificial ancestral rites. So much is it so that if a men dies without male representatives as sons, natural or adopted, a son may be adopted for him by his people. The origin and reason of the requirement will be found fully described in a Chinese petition addressed to the Governor and in Dr. EITEL's learned paper on "Domestic Servitude in relation to Slavery." These documents are published at pages 44-57 of the Blue-book already referred to. The rule among the Cantonese when adoption is decided upon is to seek a nearly related male agnate of a generation younger, generally a nephew. The father as a rule will give any of his boys but the eldest. The second son is the one usually selected. The principal members of the clan are notified of the fact of adoption. Among near relatives no money appears to pass and no "deed of sale" or "deed of gift" is made. If, however, the relations are very poor, a small sum of money may be given to the parents, called "compensation money for the expense of rearing the child," and in that case, a "presentation card" or paper reciting the transaction is given to the adopting parents, but there is no "deed of sale," properly so-called, as in the case of strangers, as will presently appear.
If the head of the family desires to adopt a male child as a son and is unable to obtain a relation, he is apparently at liberty to adopt a stranger-in-blood, for whom, however, he almost invariably pays a price. The stranger may be of the same surname, although of a different clan-if so all the better. A "deed of sale" is almost invariably executed and given to the new parents. The surname and name are changed and the clan is notified of the fact. A stranger thus adopted be- comes entitled to the same rights and privileges as one adopted from among
relatives.
Adopted sons, whether relatives or strangers, have equal rights with natural- born sons, and if after adoption a son is born to the adopting parents the adopted son loses none of his rights, but shares equally in the patrimony with the natural- born son. Sons take equal shares, whether by the lawful wife or by a concubine.
The Fokienėse, Hakka and Chin Chew people in the Colony are apparently not so tied down to seeking male relations for adoption as are the Cantonese.