2.2.
Mh Ellis
30
His
not clarly
almimitered in the man that
English town is
about a Honosn
dead bodies ass
found in H. Rong: without
bing
Ferrerates for
britt or infarti
ть
Wester. have to Impult Fo y no douth Wey would objed to fultilations
MM.
This despatch is a full statement not only
of the answers to the specific questions put to
the Governor by the Secretary of State, but also of
the attitude of the Government of Hong Kong towards
the whole question.
It is clear that under the existing law it is treated as
not fan
not an offence for mui tsai to be acquired outside
Hong Kong and brought into the Colony for service;
(para.17).
and so long as that position exists together with
So small
fine
the provision in Part IV of the Ordinance for a
as a penalty not exceeding $250 for any offence (whether
first or subsequent) I doubt if it can be held that
the Hong Kong Government are doing all they can,
even in present circumstances, to hasten the
abolition of the mui-tsai system.
It is a depressing despatch, of which the
burthen is that the abolition of the mui tsai system
cannot proceed in the small, compact, closely
administered territory of Hong Kong more quickly
than is found possible by a corrupt Chinese
Administration in the immense, populous, chaotic
territories of China and more particularly the
rovince of Kuangtung.
The despatch is not in a form suitable for
nublication. The quotation of the views of His
X Majesty's Consuls in various S. China districts are no
doubt sufficient to prevent the despatch from being
published in its present form, and I suggest that if
it is decided to lay before Parliament Mr.North's
memorandum in the Governor's previous despatch No.19
in this file, we should prepare in the Colonial
Office a digest of the present despatch to be laid
as
Page 30Page 31