Official Guardian should have adequate staff
and funds.
Hong Kong suffering from financial
depression.
Money require
for welfare work.
Committee fear British Govern- ment may be more concerned in Muitsai than children generally.
Relief from
Military contributions.
218
The Committee have already expressed their opinion that the present system of guardianship should be changed in several direc- tions. This change will entail some change of policy. The new Official Guardian, in the opinion of the Committee, ought to be given adequate funds and adequate staff. The present inspectorate appears to carry out the present policy with reasonable efficiency.
The increase of the staff of inspectors involves the question of Finance.
Hong Kong is in the throes of a financial depression, which may be increased by further taxation.
Money is urgently needed in the Colony for social purposes, and in particular for infant welfare work in all its branches. The members of the Committee being all actively engaged in forwarding infant wel- fare work, which is in urgent need of finance, are perhaps prejudiced in favour of spending any available funds on trained nurses as in- spectors for work among the sick and starving children, and on the provision of medical and hospital relief, instead of on Muitsai who, at least, are assured sufficient food and clothing, and whose needs are watched by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs and his inspectors.
The Committee feel justified in expressing a hope that the urgent needs of the children of Hong Kong generally will not be lost sight of by the British Government and the British Public because of the Muitsai.
If the British Government would relieve that part of the revenue of the Colony spent on welfare work of the 25% tax (a precedent for this course exists) considerable impetus would be given to welfare work. From this work the Muitsai benefits. The Muitsai system has its roots in poverty.
Conclusions.
(1) The most urgent need is for a full Enquiry into the sale and adoption of Chinese girls, the legal, moral and social consequences, and the best method of avoiding the dangers likely to follow a hasten- ing by official action of the changes of thought and custom now taking place.
(2) An officer of the Hong Kong Government, of whom there are many competent for the task, should be released from all other duties, to make a preliminary and complete report of the whole sub- ject from the material available. This report should be fully docu- mented, the officer should be given a perfectly free hand and his report should be personal, not official, but he should be given every assistance by the Government and the Public.
(3) The safest, and least dangerous, method of dealing with the present situation would be to vest the guardianship of all the children (not excluding boys) sold, given away, or adopted, in an official guardian who should have the qualifications detailed by Sir George Bowen.
(4) Any limitations on the powers and duties of the Official Guardian, whether legal or political, should be removed. He should, however, be associated with a committee including, if possible, one European and one Chinese lady.