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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
Sons take equal shares, whether by the lawful wife or by a concubine.
son.
The Fokienese, Hakka and Chin Chew people in the Colony are apparently not so tied down to seeking male relations for adoption as are the Cantonese.
Adoption of female children as daughters.
The system is conducted in the same manner as the adoption of males; but com- paratively few female children are adopted. They have equal rights with natural- born daughters. They are provided with a dowry when married, but, like natural- born daughters, they have no other claim on the inheritance. The daughter takes nothing by an intestacy. Every woman is supposed to get married; on doing so she "leaves the family" and is absolutely in manu of the husband, even to a power of
sale.
It is to be feared, however, that a very considerable number of female children are adopted from amongst strangers, (and therefore with a money payment,) with the intent that they should ultimately become prostitutes. These children are called "pocket-daughters." Their so-called mothers are called "pocket-mothers'. They are taught Chinese music, and are regularly trained for the profession of courtezans. At an early age they are the victims of debauchees, who "deflower them in sly brothels," paying the "pocket-mother" a large price, and the girl is thus launched on a brothel career. These young girls are said to be brought from Canton or Macao at the age of 13 or 14 years, "and are deflowered according to bargain and as a "regular matter of business for large sums of money, which go to their owners, "frequently it would appear their own parents. The regular earnings of the girls "go to the same quarter, and the unfortunate creatures obviously form subjects of "speculation to regular traders in this kind of business who reside beyond our juris- "diction." (See Hongkong Contagious Diseases' Commission, 1879, page 45).
II.
Domestic Service amongst Chinese.
The most careful inquiry shews that no male children are bought and sold here as slaves or servants, and confirms the statements in the Blue-book that "Boys are sold to be sons not slaves" and "that no such thing as a slave boy exists in Hong- kong." It might too with truth have been added "nor in Canton."
By Chinese custom and usage, for the purpose of domestic service Chinese female children are often pledged with a power of redemption, but more frequently purchased out and out from poor parents. The price varies considerably. I have known of a young child being bought at Macao for a dollar. A "deed of sale, or a "deed of gift" as it is more frequently called, is given to the purchaser. This "deed of gift" of course is a mere euphemism. It is a bill of sale, and purports to sell and convey a title with a warranty. Money is given as the consideration for the control of the services of the child, in most cases "for ever without redemption." The purchaser has a power of re-sale, although some dispute it. It is certainly exercised amongst the Chinese in the mainland, and occasionally in Hongkong. Their books have a common form of re-sale. (See appendix for a number of forms).
It is not within the scope of this Memorandum to discuss the question how far children of poor Chinese benefit by the existence of their custom of sale, or how far infanticide is checked thereby. That has been done elsewhere, and was the subject of debate in the House of Lords. (Hansard, vol. 253, page 398, of 21st June, 1880). But it is certain that the parents give for money and by deed or other written in- strument a complete power over their child, and purport to divest themselves of all control over its future. They make certain stipulations such as that when the girl grows up she shall be married. The Chinese Officials recognise these bargains of pledge and sale as binding, even, it appears, where the child has been previously stolen provided the purchaser has complied with the custom in getting a deed with