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533
In view of the fact that in the oase of numbers of the children in Hong Kong "transferred for a money payment" they are paid no wages by their owners, no matter how many years they work for them; that they are liable at any time to be beaten, insufficient ly fed, re-sold, and also put to injurious and excess- ive labour (there being no legislation in the Colony to control the labour they are put to do) it is contended that they are being used as eleves, and not as adopted children, or domestic servants, and that Paragraph II of the Slavery Law of 1825 is not therefore being enforced by "all the officers, civil mnd military in the Colony" as ordered and proclaimed when Hong Kong became the possession of Great Britain.
In view of the above facts it is earnestly hoped that you will write to your local Member and to the Secretary of State for the Colonies urging the Government to take immediate steps to enforce and administer the existing British law against slavery, and to see that British and Chinese officials in the Crown Colony of Hong Kong are properly instructed to that effect.
H, L. HASLEWOOD,
LIEUT. COMMANDER R.N. (RETIRED)
WHITCHURCH,
OZON.
February 18th 1921.
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