The question of whether or not slavery exists in Hong Kong is a matter upon which different people have different ideas according to their conception of the meaning of the term.
Your Registrars General once made a statement regarding the state of affairs in his annual report, to which he admitted was at any rate cloudy and distrusted. There will be no dispute on one point, and that is that Chinese children have been bought and sold in this British Colony without their consent being in any way obtained, and that no attempts whatsoever are made to hide the fact. That is a Chinese custom, and whilst we admit that many children are better off than they would be in freedom, we can understand that they would be happier without being bound by such a system. It is a question whether this custom ought to be suppressed. We share the horror of the lady who wrote to us yesterday on discovering the existence of this pernicious system in a British Colony, and whilst we agree with the sentiments she expresses, we are glad that she realizes the difficulties of the matter brought to the notice of influential persons.
It may interest her to learn that the very first enactment passed when Hong Kong became British was an anti-slavery Bill. Notwithstanding this measure, it was disallowed by the Home Government as it was considered that the Imperial statutes for the abolition of slavery extended to Hong Kong by their own proper force and authority. That means that the laws against trafficking in human beings are still operating. Then why are they not rigidly enforced at Hong Kong?
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Fin song Telegraph. Now, stagig Editnial Article
pha slawing does or does not trist in Stong Kong is a matton upon kich. Different people have different ideas according to their concaption The meaning of the term.
your Registrars General once
Mate of affairs
refereed, in his annual repat, toa which he admitted was at am rate clody allistrik,
Vought
wit' on one point these will be no dispute and that is that Chinesi Thûdun ave ht and sold in this Brash Colony without theiz mont bring in any way obtained, and that no attempts what wer is made to hide the Jack. That is a Chinest custom and whist we admit that say man
I then children are motion han they would be in freedom,
We can undusland
Jar happier in their we say withcorating by that's stes a custion which ought to be suppressed Is horror of the lady who write us yesterday at discovering the spistence of this pernicious system in a British Colony, and whitit agte wie iha sentiments she expresses we are glad that she realizes the diffracties of the malice. We with her success in her Deier- Jonnation is pet' (la matter brought to the notice of influential porns
It may intuest her is learn that the very first Matment paned when Day-thing Utcame British was an anti-slavery Bill, not eat this measure, was disallowed by the Stoms Gavaument as it was considered that the Imperial statuirs for the abolition of Haven Extended y heir own
proper fires and authority to Drong Kong. cal means that the laws against trafficking in human beings are still operatin, Then why
are has not rigidly inforced?
at Homs.
C
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