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What possible reliance can be placed on such contradictory statements?
I understand that the Seconder of the resolution will deal with a cable recently received from Hong Kong indicating the possible appointment of further inspectors
a cable full of "ifs" and "mays".
Speaking generally, all I need say now is that inspection needs to be carried out in a totally different spirit and must include all types of purchased girls and not merely acknowledged Mui-tsai. The inspectors undoubtedly do their best, but their task is impossible, and it is not backed up by official zeal on the part of the
Authorities.
And now I should like to give you a few extracts from a leading article in the South China Morning Post which, is one of the two leading morning papers in Hong Kong. This is from an issue of as recent a date as February 10th of this year :-
"If the Mui-tsai question continues to demand attention in London there must be a reason. The reason would appear to be that, notwithstanding the recent Hong Kong legislation, slavery still exists or is suspected to exist, with all or most of the old evils still attached to it.'
"How does one recognise a Mui-tsai? Admittedly, only by the dirty, neglected, over-worked look of her, betraying the fact that she can obviously have no parental care. In some cases she is discovered by the simple process of asking her whether or not she is a Mui-tsai''.
"Giving the Government due credit for what it has done and for what is being done, we must nevertheless quarrel with the Under-Secretary's statement that he is satisfied that the existing system of registration and inspection is sufficient, and that it is being so worked as it existed before. Any who think that a Chinese population is so easily made to observe laws lives in a fool's paradise.
"The truth is that only a fraction of the Mui-tsai of Hong Kong have come under the official ægis. The traffic continues and the suppressive measures as yet amount to little more than a salving of conscience and a disarming of criticism. What is needed is a more positive programme of suppression. In addition to protection of the fortuitously and otherwise known Mui-tsai, it is necessary that the little slaves be sought out by the inspectors. It is necessary also that the wide open "adoption" loophole be closed. It is too easy to plead that a child has been adopted, and thus escape official surveillance adoptions also should be compulsorily registered. We cannot reasonably resent criticism until we have placed ourselves further beyond criticism's reach".
My time is coming to an end. Slavery exists in the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong to-day under the Mui-tsai and kindred systems. No Centenary Celebra- tions of the Abolition of Slavery in British Possession, however numerous, will alter the fact.
By giving the impression in these celebrations that slavery is abolished, the result as far as I can see has been to bind such slaves as the Mui-tsai more closely than ever in their bondage, for the simple reason that the only times either the Home or Hong Kong Government move at all is when pubilc opinion is aroused and shows its indignation in no uncertain manner.
Thus I hope and trust that this resolution will be accepted and passed with true sincerity and that those who are responsible for the continuance of this slavery will recognise that the matter is not going to be forgotten nor forgiven until every Mui- tsai regains her full freedom and our unhonoured pledges as a nation are honoured.
RESOLUTION SECONDED BY MISS ELBANOR FITZGERALD :—
In the name of St. John's Social and Political Alliance, I whole-heartedly second the resolutions put before you by Commander Haslewood.