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CHILD SLAVERY IN HONG KONG
ATTENTION IS CALLED TO THE FOLLOWING FACTS WITH REGARD TO THE
CHILD SLAVERY IN THE BRITISH COLONY OF HONG KONG
(1) THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR THE COLONIES admitted in the House
of Commons on November 4th 1920 (seo Hansard Report) that a custom does exist in Hong Kong whereby children and girls can be transferred from one person to another by means of a money payment.
(2) THE UNDER SECRETARY admitted on December 8th 1920 that no wages are paid to the children and girls who, after the transaction referred to above are put to work by their employers.
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(3) THE UNDER SECRETARY admitted on December 20th 1980, that no provisions are made with regard to the hours of labour and the kind of labour which can be demanded of even the youngest chila thus banded over for a money payment,
(4) THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG in his Report of 1980 (on which all the statements made by the Under Secretary are based) stated that the allegations made by Colonel John Ward, and Lieut.- Commander Haslewood as to the traffic in girls going on in the Colony as a result of the allowance of this custom were unfounded, and that it could not be called slavery.
(5) On October 28th 1980 the ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF HONG KONG stated at a MEETING of the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL "that the svil resulting from the traffic in girls in this Colony is so great, that further powers are required for dealing with it," and be suggested the amendment of Ordinance 1897 for the Protection of Women and Girls.
THE FACTS NOT ADMITTED BY THE COLONIAL OFFICE ARE AS FOLLOWS :-
(1) That brokers transact the sale and purchase of children and girls in the Colony, and are not prosecuted for so doing. (See Police Court evidence attached,)
(2) That further measures are needed to protect children from ill treatment.
(3) That girls are bought and sold into prostitution under this system, and to supply the licensed brothels of the Colony, (soe Press evidence attached)
(4) That many of the girls thus sold are under age, (see Press evidence attached)
The Secretary of State for the Colonies has suggested to the Governor of Hong Kong that he should form Committees for the "protection and improvement in the condition of these gir1 domestics.
This may bring to light more of the evils which naturally are of constant occurrence as a result of this custom, but no word in his suggesti on prohibits the buying and selling of human beings in the Colony into oonditions of Slavery.