280
GIRL SLAVERY IN HONGKONG
memorial by all ranks of the Chinese people, and is moreover a mode of reliev ing the poor. So long then as Hongkong lies at the door of China, and the welfare of the Chinese in general has not been ameliorated by their own government, is it not better to leave things as they are? At the commencement of the Revolution, it is true, an effort was made to abolish the custom, but without effect,
Failure of the Revolution to effect a change. The attendant difficulties such as the feeding and lodging of destitute millious in flooded and famine-stricken districts, were too great, while untold miseries such as suicide, starving and drowning of children due to interference without pro- per provision, made the scheme impractic- able. Let it not, however, be thought, that I am against any measures of reform. But what I consider is this, that condi- tions in China being such as they are it should be left to public opinion rather than law gradually to work a change. The home government meanwhile I believe is in full possession of all facts of the case.
A word may be usefully inserted here on the term "traffic" which is used in this connection, on account of the fact of money being used in the transactions we are considering. But so is it employed in the case of Chinese weddings also where presents from the bridegroom's family to that of the bride consist of money, so that if the term traffic" is lawful in the oue case so is it also in the other.
Lires led by Servant-Girls. Coming back to the question of "slavery" I will now say a few words on the sort of lives usually led by these servant- girls. Naturally their conditions depend vory much on the circumstances of tho families which take them in. Many are taught to read and sew, while not a few do household work alone and look after the children-practically the same work If as they would do in their own homes. they are scolded or beaten, this is not more than is done to disobedient or lazy children, or than Europeans, as I have seen, do to their amahs, coolies or boys. But it is not typical of the ordinary father, master or mistress. It may be argued that coolies and amabs may leave their households while servant-girls cannot, but neither can children leave their homes, and it is a
*}
fact of common knowledge that in civilized nations cases of ill- occur far worse than any tegin subjected to.
The Marriage Customa, When girls become of marriageal they are married in the sam all Chinese girls of poor fame, often with a better dowry and · better off then their parent- found for them had they never been Before marriago is arranged the or guardians are informed, and have their power, if they so desire, the money originally paid. tike their girls. Sometimes they are by own consent and that of their mis taken as secondary wives. Mother E they may refuse to marry at all, r to earn their own living as beir v or ladies' maids, in which casser themselves off and leave allogether w employment elsewhere.
!.
In cities and towns it may indeed that they prefer to le evil fame to enjoy as they dem greater liberty auil more luxurious 1. than married life would give it especially if they are taken as by men in high and wealthy pode But when they are legally mad have left to work elsewhere, they still allowed to return to visit the masters or mistresses on terms of ity with the other members of the f and not infrequently they are ! as daughters by childless parents.
No Solution in Law or Religion The solution, I repeat, of the does not rest in the law or with dig not a few Chinese who have embracel Christian faith still keep
girls. Nor is Hongkong the only which under modified terms similar) even more deplorable evils exist. Ist condemn ill-treatment of the yang ther of one's own children or wher welcome preventive measures; p to my opinion that the prohibition ing and selling of childon wom result in far greater evils than present complained of unless at the time means were found to suppor millions of poor who struggle for existence in China.
#
CONFIDENTIAL.
4 13 6 3 4 5/200
dlosure 1.
Sir,
20156
23 AP 21
GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
HONGKONG. 10th March, 1921.
252 -
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Lord Milner's Confidential despatch of December 2nd, 1920,
enclosing a copy of a letter with enclosure from Mrs. C. B. L.
Haslewood regarding cases of "child-slavery" in Hongkong.
2. The annexed minute by the Secretary for Chinese
Affairs deals sufficiently with Mrs. Haslewood's covering
letter. As regards the points specified by numbers in the
enclosure to her letter:-
(1) Apparently the reference is to a case brought up on
the 16th July, 1920, (not the 16th of June,on which date no
such case is recorded). The two girls aged 15 and 9 respective-
-ly had undoubtedly been ill-treated, having bruises and burns
on their bodies, but there was no injury of a permanent characte
The employer was fined £500; the girls were sent to the Po
Leung Kuk on August 3rd. The elder girl was adopted on the
27th August and the younger on 8th September under bonds for g150. I should explain that in such cases of adoption from the
Kuk the bondsman who is a person of standing and known to the
authorities undertakes to cause the woman who has adopted the
girl to bring her to the office of the Secretary for Chinese
Affairs when called upon to do so. Girls are brought to the office every three or six months according to circumstances.
(2) See the minute by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs already referred to. It will be noted that the woman concerned
HE RIGHT HONOURABLE
WINSTON CHURCHILL, M.P.,
&c.
&c..
in