7
full
X I here was account in a local
Straits newspaper.
We
16.6
Governor's despatch, I cannot trace that we
have yet received any information from the Straits Settlements that the proposed regis- tration of adopted daughters has been abandoned.
Presumably such abandonment would take the form
of an amendment of the definition of Mui Tsai,
which in the Straits Bill (enclosure No.2 to
No.1 on 92086/32 Straits) was so wide that it
included girls who in Hong Kong are still termed
adopted daughters. The speech of the Acting Secretary for Chinese Affairs in introducing
the first reading of the Straits Settlements
Bill was so worded that in my opinion the
Straits Government may not find it easy to with- draw from the position then taken up with regard
definition
to adopted daughters. "The didtinetion" he
said, "is drawn in order to overcome the fiction
that a girl is an 'adopted daughter'.
The adoption of daughters is not a custom re-
cognised in China". This and other quotations
from his speech were advanced by Lieutenant
Commander Haslewood in his letter of 15.3.32
(No.4 on 92612/32) as strong arguments in favour of the registration of adopted daughters in
Hong Kong.
No doubt the present despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong will form the subject
of further discussion with Sir William Peel,
who has just arrived in this country, and with
whom Sir John Simon is also to discuss the
present position with regard to Mui Tsai. In
the meantime, ? send duplicate of (9) with
enclosures in short s.o. letter to Sir John
2.3.
Mr Boyd's
Simons for erdaraze
at signature,
explaining