Sir,
102
I was surprised to read in your issue of the 20th March a report of a meeting at Reading on the 16th at which Lady Simon stated that slavery was condoned by Hong Kong where there were some 10,000 child slaves owned by the Chinese.
I immediately consulted the Colonial Office conform my rinfresco
to disbever that there was no foundation for this
startling allegation.
It appeared that Lady Simon's
statement referred to the existence of Mui-Tsai in
Hong Kong.AMui-Tsai is family domestic servant in return for whose services payment has been made to her parent or guardian. It has been repeatedly denied that the employment of Mui-Tsai, as it exists in Hong Kong, could be called slavery except by gross misuse of that term. In Hong Kong the law recognises no rights of ownership whatsoever in favour of the employer as against the Mui-Tsai or as against her parents. The
If status of the Mui-Tsai is entirely a free status. a Mui-Tsai wishes to leave her employer there is no legal obstacle to her doing so at any moment.
The employment of the Mui-Tsai is a recognised custom in China. The Mui-Tsai are, in general, well treated, the very name means "little sister", and it is considered by Chinese public opinion to be obligatory on their employers to see that they are married or suitably provided for when they are about 18 years of age. The institution is, however,
admittedly
THE EDITOR,
THE BERKSHIRE CHRONICLE.