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KOWLOON AND ITS HINTERLAND
factories, I make bold to assert that
the hundreds, nay thousands, of women and children engaged in this industry at Kowloon exhibit an air of content- ment and physical well-being that might well be the envy of countries where Factory Acts are in operation to safeguard the interents of the working classes The complaint is a common one, and has not arisen from the people for whom Mr. Bowley advocates, but curiously enough from promotera of industries, that restri Lions against the starting of new industries and the exactions from Government are such as to deter the employment of capital And the undertaling of enterprises in the Colony. On a retent occasion the editor of The Rock and myself had the oppor- tunity of meeting ading representatives of the Chinese community in Hongkong. We were struck by the remark from one, blessed with much of this world's riches, that the "law" of Hangkong was what he so greatly admired By contrast, it Beems strange that a Britisher, whose profession places himsel in a special position to set a correct appreciation on the value of our laws, should be the one to cavil at the inadequacy of it provisions to safeguard the interests of the Chinese themselves. The creation of the depart- ment of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, which is none other than one for the protection of the Chinese, with an effcient head in the person of the Hon. Mr. Ş. B. C. Ross, is a sufficient guarantee that the abuses which Mr. F. B. L. Bowley com- plains of cannot exist to the extent which bis paper might lead those not conversant with conditions prevailing in Hongkong to believe. Mr. Bowley's intentions are undoubtedly good, but the method he has
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adopted to carry them out may be open to objection.
Kowloon has been favoured by the gods at the annual Race Meeting just concluded. Out of the three big prizes in the sweep- stakes for the race for the Championship, the second and third prizes went to Kow- loon residents. The second prize, which is worth $6,880, was won with ticket No. 1500 by Mrs. G. A. Yvanovich, Jr. The third prize was of a value of $3,440 and went to Mrs. Wheeler, wife of Captain Wheeler, of the Indo-China 8. N. Co., and
Urquhart, in partnership. The first prize of the very next race (Consolation States) was won by Mr. F. E. Carvalho. and his 800 Mr. Fernão Carvalho, both esidents of Kowloon. The prize was worth $3,000, Mrs. Farias won a prize over $3,000 on the first day, and Mr. Faias one of $400 on the second day. A singular circumstance connected with ticket M 1509 for the Champions is related by the lucky winner of the prize. Mrs. Yovich had a bag of flour bought some time before the races. When the bag was emptied of its contents and while hemstitching the piece of cloth the design of this special brand of four attracted her attention. The trade mark is that of the Yueu Fong lour Mills Co. and depicted a telephone box superscribed with the number 1509 in Arge figures. The next day she enquired ↑ Mr. U. Rumjaha if that number was available for the Champions. Thus it was that the number which drew the favourite brought its purchaser the handsome gift of early
seven thousand dollars,
"Catholic Press Day"
ST. JOSEPHIAN.
His Lordship the Bishop has decreed that there shall be special prayer at the Holy All who are Hour on Thursday, March 31st, for the prosperity of our Catholic Press. interested-and who is not?-in this important matter hould make it a point to carry out His Lordship's wishes by being present in the Capedral and praying for this intention. On the following Wednesday, the 6th April, the Bishop will call a moeting at the Mission House of the Promoters and friends of The Rok and the Religião e Patria to discuss means of obtaining better support for these two papers.
GIRL SLAVERY IN HONGKONG
result in even greater orils, The hent I made to the papers in the views mentioned above I will repeat ta principal features in the belief that is of sufficient importance to merit
duction here.
The Meaning of Slavery. word slavery can, in my opinion, taken in a broad sense, and all depends how it is used. In a sense we are all us slaves to some person or to some The question as it is now under Ensaion has already been investigated the Registrar General (now termed the tary for Chinese Affairs) with the stance of the lending Chinese. The has been laid fairly and squarely
the public who now, I think, understand what is really meant the term "slavery" when it is employed this endection.
Not Legally Allowed,
here is no slavery in China to-day in the and technical seuse of the term, nor the buying and selling of human
been tolerated by law in recent as is clearly proved by the wording ocuments used in such transactions. parents are willing instinctively to With their children, and nothing but stress will make them bow to this
inful necessity. But this does times occur, as the following instance has come under my personal notice show.
A Personal Experience.
As I was leaving my house one day I poor woman with a daughter about years old weeping bitterly at my gate. nquiry I found they were nearly ng Her husband had died three ago leaving her with two daughters e of whom she had fortunately sold to le of good disposition. With the ds, she had succeeded in building sherl. But now it was tumbling to bees and she and her girl were unable earn a sufficient livelihood to support selves. She begged my people to her child: and though refusing the we offered her money she still con- d with tears to solicit us to look after girl. Now what, in a case like this, the law to do? Purish the helpless ther and place the child in a convent or
charitable institution? Most of the cases 'child-slavery' of so-called " to this.
are similar
Treatment of Girls and Safeguards against Cruelty.
It must be remembered that girls sold into other families as adopted daughters or servant-girls are looked upon as mem- bers of the family. They are better fed and better clothed, and do lighter work than with their own parents. Indocile and mischievous girls no doubt are punish- on occasion are one's own ed. but so children. But they have their remedies here as on the mainland of China. They can complain to their parents or guardians when these come to visit them, which is always one of the stipulations of their contract, In Hongkong, moreover, they have the Chinese Secretariat, the Police and the Society for the Protection of Women and Children (called the Po Loung Kuk of which we reproduce a photograph), to all of which the girls are able to carry their complaints, certain of receiving prompt attention.
On the mainland of China also there are charitable institutions where elders of clans and other influential bodies attend to similar complaints; while in Hongkong again notices are posted up officially in brothels and elsewhere impressing on the girls the necessity of reporting ill- treatment and the fact that they are free- agents so that all Chinese are well aware that cruelty to servants is not tolerated.
Humanitarian Point of View. Speaking then from a humanitarian point of view I am clearly of opinion that unless the wealthy classes and the Govern- ment of China agree to co-operate in establishing foundling homes and poor- houses in every district to gather in the poor, support and finance thein, it would to force the only make matters worse common people to end a practice to which stress of circumstances alone has forced them and which it is beyond their power to resist.
No alteration possible or desirable yet.
As a representative of the Chinese I fail to see how I could, in view of existing circumstances, lend any useful help in suppressing what is complained of. It is a mode of life adopted from time im-