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THE SLAVE MARKET NEWS
Editorial Offices-Arcst Orchards, Sidmouth,
England.
THE SLAVE MARKET NEWS.
entitled "Hong Kong Papers Relating to the Mai Tsai Question, Cmd. 8424." This can be obtained at the price of 18. 8d. through any bookseller. It contains 77 papera of official information concerning the subject of slavery in Hong Kong,
WHAT WE THINK. including certain strongly worded com
LAN AE MOT (AGE 8 YEARS)
SOLD IN HONG KONG FOR 01 DOLLARS.
THE COLONIAL OFFICE REPLY.
A Member of Parliament has sent to ag leuter which he has received from the Colonial Office concerning our lest issue on the subject of Slavery in Hong Kong.
We feel it is due to our readers to pablish the vital extracts of this com- munication sent by the Colonial Office, and to add such observatione as we feel are warranted by the official information published in the White Paper, Cmd. 8424.
It is
The reply to the Member referred to, contains the following sentences: "The statement that slavery existe in Hong Kong is, of course, Lotrue, and many of the other statements printed give a quite misleading impression of what the situ ation is and what effort has been, and is being made to improve conditions. impossible categorically to deny all the anfounded allegations made in this and similar irresponsible publications; but in correction of the regrettable statements made in the editorial as to the fate of the Mai Tea in Hong Kong, I am to suggest a reference to the Report of the League of Nations Commission of En- quiry into Traffic in Women and Children in the East."
WHAT ABOUT TRI WHITE PAPER?
It would appear that the Colonial Office forget that there has been published by H.M. Stationery Office publication
munications from different Colonial Secre- taries, reports of the Hong Kong Govern. ment Officials, and the record of the de- bate of the Hong Kong Legislative Coun- vil of December 28th, 1922.
We venture to think that any person interested in the subject who reads through the White Paper will come to the conclusion that the statement that
slavery exists in Hong Kong was certainly true during the years 1922 and 1929, and that the onus of proof that slavery is now non-existent in this Crown Colony is upon the Colonial Office.
We have, from time to time, published the recorde of Police Court proceedings in Hong Kong, and in the current issue we publish further extracts and reports from "The South China Morning Post," which indicate that the Mai Tsai system still flourishes in Hong Kong, and is the very essence of slavery.
LORD PAFIELD'S DESPATCH.
In the concluding despatch by Lord Pass- field on August 22nd, 1929, addressed to the Governor of Hong Kong, be atated “Whilst foollog bound by the traditional policy of this ccontry, to regard to any lostitution that Savours of slavery to take steps for the aboil- tion of the Mal Teal eystem, nothwithstand- log any opposition to the Colony, I seed hardly remind you of the desirability of on- lating as far as possible Chinese opinion in favour of the change."
In the statement made by the Colonial Office In reply to a Member of Parliament, it is eald "It is Impossible categorically to dang all the unfounded allegatione made In this (ie. The Blave Market News) and similar Irresponsible publications. It would be an. lightening if the Colonial Ofon could state quite clearly what are the “unfounded alle. gatlons made in this Jourusi. We shall be pleased to deal with them on receiving lafor. mation giving chapter and veres. We should alec like to ask what is the precise meaning of the term "irresponsible publication." To our knowledge there le no other Anti-Slavery newspaper lo exlatence, The Anti-Slavery Society publish their most excellent Report of Anti-Slavery sobievements every quarter. It is pertinent to sak what are the names of the irresponsible publications" that are so tactfully referred to by the Colonial Office.
The Colonial Office also makes reference to "the regrettable statements made in this editorial concerning the fate of the Mui Tes! In Hong Kong." We deal with the Report of the League of Natione Commission In ⚫nother column, and would remind our readers that the decision of the Hong Kong Government made in December, 1931, to close the tolerated brothale In the Colony, was only made possible by the self-sacrificing efforts of poble-minded women, who have urged Its abolition for many years past.
JAN. 1934.
BROTHELS IN HONG KONG.
Mrs. G. H. Forster states in "The Shield" (November, 1933), concerning Hong Kong under Regulation, that" Some 400 registered houses were kept constantly supplied with girls." We leave it to our readers to form their own opinions as to where these girls were obtained, and whether Hong Kong is an exception to the general rule, that where girls are liable to barter, they form the most ready recruits for these house.
We understand that the Government bas undertaken to abolish the tolerated brothels within three years from 1931,
The Colonial Office alec statee that "The Government has abolished the servile status of Mui Tari, and has prohibited the acquisition or introduction into the Colony of Mui Tsai,” It le sigulfcant to note that apparently for the first time, the Colonial Office have now admitted that the status of Mui Teal was a SERVILE STATTS, which In other worde is davery. We hope that das note will be made of the ages of girls who in 1933 were produced in polloo court cases.
A perusal of the Polles Court proceedings should serve to show that the status ja still "servila" and that it is quite common thing for a nominal fine to be inflicted" on the owner of a Mal Tai, who is handed back again, la many cases, to the person who has made money payment for the oblid. What, however, neema to us to be a moet perturblog state of affairs, la that although the Colonial Oca stated that the Government has pro- hibited the acquisition or Introduction of Mal Test into the Colony, the system le still carried on.
WANTED AN ABMT OF INSPECTOR."
We should like to remind the Colonial Office and our readers of a Despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Oolonies, June 20th, 1920. Ia thle, the Governor atated The daily ebb and flow of population sarose the frontiers of Hong Kong, both by land and water, estima. ted at between five and six thousand each way, and the constant movement of the population within the Colony, both to and from the island and the malaland, present difficulties which can hardly be exaggerated. An army of inspectors with the widest power of entry and search would be required to enforce_registration and heavy expenditure would be incurred to little or no purpose." We are informed, however, by the Voloulal Office that three luspectors have been ap poluted, sud that these Inspectorn, “two of whom are ladies, have shown that in general glala are contented and well-treated by the employers." Thus three inspectors are now declared to be saticlent for the work which the Governor himself stated in 1929 would require an army of inspectors, with the widest power of entry and search.
Here we have two irreconcliable offiolal statements striking at the very root of the Mai Teal system.
Hundreds of girls cannot
even be traced, se shown la correspondence on our front page.
It is for our readers to deolde who makes "Irresponsible statemente.“
Continued on Page 7
JAN, 1934.
THE SLAVE MARKET NEWS.
Servitude of Little Children in Ceylon.
With the consent of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, there has been issued by the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protec. tion Society, correspondence with the Government upon the "adoption " 85stom
of Ceylon, which persons in responsible positions in that Colony have declared to be one of Slavery, because the adopted child" is often sold and sold over again.'
It is now proposed to issue an Ordinance, under which these children shall be regis- tered, and provision is made for inspection of the "adopted" children in public institu tions, algo aume limits are proposed to the hours of labour.
The Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protec. tion Society has pointed out to Sir Philip Cunliffe Lister that this Ordinance makes no provision for the suspection of the conditions of "adopted" children generally, that under this Ordinance "adopted" children of seven years can be made to work without any fimitation of their hours of labour during the week, and that oven on Sundays, they may be made to work four hours.
In view of the nature of this Ordinance, and of the fact that the system leads to considerable cruelty, the Bociety appeals to Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister to secure sub- stantial amendments to the Ordinance, pending abolition of the system.
CHILD PROTECTION IN CEYLON.* The fourth Annual Report of the Child Protection Society shows that cases of cruelty to children, neglect, and the abuses which arise from the so called "adoption," for domestic service. still continue, in spate of the efforts of the Socisty. The report tells us that the work e progressing, but only slowly, and such progress has been m the direction of arousing healthy public opinion, towards which the attitude taken by magistrates, in condemning cases of cruelty, bas nesisted.
Unfortunately the manthership of the Society has decreased, and according to the report of Mr. Valentine Perers, which is annexed to that of the Society, Child Pro- tection will always remain an unsolved pro- blem until a Children's Ordinance, of which a draft has been propated and a copy sent to our Society, has become law. sud Juvenile Courts have been established. The Ordinance, which is a simple one, has been carefully drafted and is being "considered, recon- sidered, kitered and amended." It dents with the questions of adoption, employment, cruelty, orphanages and voluntary homes, juvenile offenders, certified schools, etc.
While the number of cases of cruelty has hardly at all diminished, we are informed that the degree of cruelty appears to be declining. The number of social workers has increased, but more are required.
Mr. Perora deals with the aspect vi cruelty cases, These still await effective reform, as do the cases in which boys are charged in police courts for minur offences, which are always punished by a caning in. dicted in open court, after which no further trouble is taken with the fender. Mr. Perera dwells on the point and asks, “What hope is there for child protection under such conditions 7" Children must, ho maintains,
be protected from birth until they reach at least the age of eighteen years.
Until orphanages, reformatones, children's homes and certified schools are established, "there
can be no salvation for the childhood of this country."
The following letter has been addressed to the Colonial Office on behalf of the Society: 6th November, 1933. The Rt. Hon. Sir PHILIP CUNLIFFE-LISTEE.
To:-
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Our Committee has had under consideration the system known as Adoption in Ceylon, and the draft Ordinans for dealing with this system.
The main purpose of the Ceylon system of Adoption not benevolence, but la "in nearly every are the payment of a lump sum of money for children" for frea domestic service."*
The Mayor of Colombo, in 1929, In publia speech, referred to the system as one amonatiog to Javery. Au Editorial in a Ceylon newspaper sald the whole system is cual and the prolios amounts to bothing low then elavory." The amo Editorial emphasized that these adopted children are treated * mere chattels by unscrupulous em- ployers and are honght and sold and sold ovaz Again." The Editor in Chief of the Times of Ceylon, writing in the Britlah Times of 24th February, 1930, mid of adoption "There upquo- tionably what amounts to watery of ty terrible type."
It le quite slear that the conditions of this serv!- tude do In fuot violate the terms of the Anti- Slavery Convention of 1993. (866 Lord Centi's explanation of Article 2 of the Slavery Convention- League White Paper A, 104, 1920. VL)
Our purpose, however, in approaching you not that of indlating evt, but to collet your sympathetic support for further amendments to the proposal Ordinance.
of
While glad to note that the Ordinance proposes for a registration of all adopted children, we do not observe any provision foo Inspection other than that
Home And Tostitutions. We therefore beg Isave to urge that periodio fospection should be provided for either in the Ordinance or by wome other administrative mestre. We hold with the Obild Protection Boalety (Ceylon) that "After all, registration and inepestions are email return to make for free domestic service."
We have noted with nonsera that not only is the age limit at which adopted javecile can be made to work arven years, but the Ordinance places no limit to the hours which anab juveniles can be made to work, beyond the provision that they shall not on Sunday exceed four.
It le true that a Local Authority may make bye- lawn limiting the hours of labour.
We cannot believe that His Majesty's Government will allow an Ordinance with these defeats to be pased tuto iaw in the Colony of Ceylon without very soniderable amendment.
There is incontrovertible evidence that the system leads to considerable o uelty, the direct revult of this system of securing children by purchase for free labour.
We hope that the period of the continued rib. tence of this system will be a short one, but that pending its early abolition, provialen will be made for registration, Inspection, the limiting of the bears of labour and a rising of the age at which ohildren can be made to labour.
We have, etc.. TRAFERS BUXTON, Hon Secretary JOHN HARRIS, Parliamentary Secretary, "Ses Quarterly Bulletin of the Child Protection
Society of Ceylan, Vol 2, No 1, 1953, p2.
Sir,
RIPLY
Downing Street,
23rd November, 1938
I am directed by Secretary Sir Philip Cunliffe- Litter to acknowledge the repeipt of your letter of the 6th November, 1933, on the subject of the custom of child adoption as practised in Ceylon,
Str Philip Chaliffe-Lister has no reason to doubt that the Government of Ceylon la aware of the objections to the conditions under which children may be employed in that aloud as domestic ser- vants, and he has stoortained that the Executive Committee for Home Affairs of the Ceylon State Connel has appointed & Sub-committee to go into
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the whois question of the employment of women and oblidran and the system of adoption. It will be for the Executive Committee In the first lontance to consider what sotion it le desirable to take on the Sub-committee's report when it la received.
A copy of your latter will be sent to the Offer Administering the Government of Ceylon for ble la formattor, and for communication Executive Committee.
1am, Sir,
to
the
Tane obedient servant,
(Signed H. R. COWELL.
•From "Pie Reporter" of The Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Pretection Society.
MEETING ON SLAVERY.
Among the more natable meeting being orgauled in selebration of the Centenary of Britain's decision to abolik Slavery, & Spasex Meeting to be held in Brighton on Friday evening. Februsy 16th, The Dams has been secured for the purpose and Str John Simon bas consented to address this gathering. Arrangements are belog made to secure the co-operation of all the principal towns throughout the County. Farther particulare will be published in due course. The demonstra tlou la belog orgauled jointly by the League of Nations L'alon and the Anti-Slavery Society,
THE SLAVE.
Unce in this life his soul found joy
Too deep for words to tell, "He dwelt among his own people,"
And so far all was well! Until the hand of cruel fara At one felt stroke filled life with hate!
Ah no.
Not hatred of his own.
They were his pride and care. But of the foe that drove him forth
In misry and despair!
A slave, a chattel on God's earth. "Twere better he had ne'er known birth!
Home, wife, and children, he must leave,
May be see them no more,
In bitter bondage his days pass Upon a foreign shore ! Despised, ill used, and even slain By traders in his flesh-for gain! Shorn of all rights which manhood gives,
To live and be his best,
The charter of his freedom, too,
Denied by Christ confessed No matter what his colour be,
A child of God, no less is he.
By earth, by man, cast out and spurned,
A belpless creature, he,
By "might" not "right," enslaved and
chained,
Will none now set him free? Lat such destroy the Eendish mart, Lest still in man the Christ-wounds smart,
Millions who once broathed freedom's air,
Were raided, bought and sold, And died not in a noble cause.
Whose wronge were manifold! Lat not the hour now strike in vain, The slave's birthright give back again!
THE REV. JOHN R. PALMER, Litt.D.
Gratwich Rectory,
Uttoxeter, Staffs.
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