Enclosure No. 1.
Extract from the Hong Kong Daily Press of January 22, 1930.
27
H.K. SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION
OF CHILDREN.
INAUGURATION MEETING IN CITY HALL.
VOTE OF $3,000 GRANT-IN-AID INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
THE MUI-TSAI QUESTION BROUGHT UP AGAIN.
A very large number of persons, European and Chinese, at- tended the inaugural meeting of the Hong Kong Society for the On a Protection of Children yesterday in the City Hall.
The meeting rough estimate there were at least 400 in the room. was concerned solely with business, the election of officers, etc., after the proposal for the constitution of the Society had been put forward by His Excellency, Sir Cecil Clementi, K.C.M.G., and warmly adopted.
In the course of his speech His Excellency referred to the vexed mui tsai question, repeating his previously expressed opinion that registration of mui tsai would not to any great extent help to improve their condition, and his belief that these girls were as a rule better off with their employers than in their own homes.
"at- "The Hong Kong Government," His Excellency went on, taches so much importance to this matter (of the protection of children) that a vote has been included in this year's budget for a grant-in-aid of $3,000 to the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children."
The Society, he said, entered on its career with the best wishes of the Hong Kong Government and with the support of all citizens of the Colony.
We have since been informed that H.E. the Governor and Lady Clement wish it to be announced that they have become life members of the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children.
FULL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT.
GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.
In explaining the aims and oby jects of the Society H.E. the Gover-i nor spoke as follows:-
I rejoice that a Society for the Protection of Children is this day to be established in Hong Kong, and I am very glad to be present at the constituent meeting this afternoon. The Society is to be. known as the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children, and its aims are as follows:-
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(1) To protect children and young persons by preventing, re- moving, or mitigating any in- justice done to them; to safe- guard their morals; to prevent any act which causes or is likely to cause them unneces- sary suffering or injury to their health; and generally to protect the interests of child-
ren.
(2) To take all necessary steps for the enforcement of any exist- ing law for their protection or in their interests, and to advocate and promote any amendment of any law which may be considered desirable for their protection or in their interests..
(3) To take such steps by written
or printed statements, public meetings, or otherwise, as may be deemed expedient, for the purpose of educating the public generally in the inter- ests of the welfare of the young. (4) To provide and maintain an organization for the above ob- jects.
(5) To do all other such lawful things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment' of the above objects.
The "Mui Tsai " Question. As you are doubtless aware, a Society with similar objects exists in the United Kingdom, and it is most desirable that a Society of this kind should also be established in Hong Kong; for there has been considerable agitation, both here and in England, concerning cases of cruelty to children which have come to light in this Colony and particularly on the subject of mui tsai. The mater has been ventilat-
! ed freely in the House of Commons, and the Secretary of State for the Colonies has directed the regis tration of mui tsai in this Colony. As most of you know from printed papers already published, I do not myself believe that registration of¡ mui tsai will to any great extent help to improve their condition. My own opinion is that mui tsai are as a rule well treated, and much į better off with their employers in this Colony than they would be with their parents, who often live in China under conditions of terrible hardship and privation.
Chinese Love for Children.
I am fully persuaded that the Chinese are as fond of their children! as any other people in the world, and that Chinese parents love their children every bit as much as English parents. It is seldom the desire for money which induces Chinese parents to part with their children. The alternative may quite well be starvation. But unfortu- nately, here in Hong Kong, as also in England, there exist men and women who are so lost to all feel- ings of human kindness that they will maltreat children who are in their power. It is on this account that a Society for the Protection of Children is necessary in England, and for the same reason such a Society is also required in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Govern-
ment attaches so much importance to this matter that a Vote has been included in this year's Budget for a grant-in--aid of $3,000 to the Hong Kong Society for the Protec-