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Answer: This clause is unusual. But it seems there is an inherent right of parents or an adoptive parent to present the child to any other person on the same terms as those of the original deed of presentation if the child turns out to be unmanageable.
Question 13.-Is it not the essence of adoption that the transaction shall be irre- vocable and that the child thenceforward at all times stands in the relation of a child to the adoptive parent?
Answer: No. Even the adoption of an heir is not irrevocable. If an adopted heir turns out to be disobedient to the adoptive parent, his adoption may be revoked upon application to a court of law.
Question 14.-If such is not the essence of adoption is it not foreign to the con- ception of adoption that in case of disobedience the adoptive parent should have an un- restricted right to present the child to whomsoever such adoptive parent may choose?
Answer: The answer to question 13 applies to this question. In China the parent or the adoptive parent who is in loco parentis seems to have such unrestricted right.
Question 15.-Is such an unrestricted right of presentation in case of disobedience consistent with the child being handed over as a mui-tsai.
Answer:-Yes, it may be so. But the terms of such presentation must be the same as that of the original deed of presentation. That is, either to be a servant, if the original terms meant her to be servant, or a foster-daughter, as the case may be.
Question 16.-Is it customary or usual in the case of bona fide adoption to stipu- late that the adoptive parent shall have the right to get the child married at her discre- tion?
Answer: The adoptive parent being a person in loco parentis has the inherent right of a natural parent of making arrangements for the marriage of the adopted or fos- ter-daughter. This stipulation need not be inserted in the deed of presentation but is usually inserted.
Question 17. Is not such a right one which is incidental to the relationship of em- ployer and mui-tsai?
Answer: This right of marrying a mui-tsai is incidental to the relationship of the Master or Mistress and a mui-tsai who is in the position of a foster-daughter; but it does not exist between an employer and a paid servant girl, that is Chue Nin Mui (住小妹)
Question 18. What is the strict meaning of the word which is translated as "pre-
sented"?
Answer: The word translated as presented means "Given as a gift".
Question 19. Is it a word which one would expect to find used in connection with adoption and/or the establishment of the relationship of employer and mui-tsai?
Answer: This word is used in order to distinguish the relationship between the Master or Mistress and the mui-tsai who is to be treated as a foster-daughter and as a member of the family from that of the relationship between an employer and a paid servant say, the Chue Nin Mui (4). If an agreement had to be made between an employer and a paid servant the word used would be or that is to engage”.
Question 20-Is it customary or usual for an employer to provide for a mui- tsai an ample wardrobe, including silk garments and ornaments such as a gold ring and a pair of ear-rings?
Answer: If the Master or Mistress
well-to-do and in the position of a foster
parent of a mui-tsai, Yes. If the Master or Mistress is not rich or is in the position of employer of a "paid mui-tsai", No.
Question 21.-Is it customary among the Chinese for the younger daughters of a house to participate in the duties ordinarily performed by domestic servants such as the sweeping of floors, the cleaning of spittoons, dusting of rooms and the like?
Answer: Yes. Not only the younger ones but all daughters. Unless the family employs many servants daughters do perform household duties. It is considered by the Chinese to be a virtue in their daughters to do household duties.
Question 22. Has the parent of a mui-tsai a right to redeem his child and if so upon what terms?
Answer: Yes. The Chinese have the greatest respect for the natural affection between parents and children. If parents desire the return of their daughter after being presented to another family as a mui-tsai for a reunion of their family, a Court of Justice would order the return of the daughter subject to payment of compensation. But in most cases the natural feeling among Chinese in such cases would not oppose the return of the girl provided it is a bona fide case of reunion. Compensation would be paid for the up-keep of the girl calculated in a nominal sum upon the number of years she has been in the Master's or Mistress' family.