36
THE SLAVE MARKET NEWS
Editorial Offices-Arcst Orchards, Sidmouth,
England.
THE SLAVE MARKET NEWS.
entitled "Hong Kong Papers Relating to the Mui Tsai Question, Cmd. 8424." This can be obtained at the price of 18. 8d. through any bookseller. It contains 77 papers of official information concerning the subject of slavery in Hong Kong, WHAT WE THINK, including certain strongly worded com.
LAM AU MOY (AGE 8 YEARS)
BOLL IN HONG KONG Fox 61 DOLLARA.
THE COLONIAL OFFICE REPLY.
A Member of Parliament bae sept to us letter which he has received from the Colonial Office concerning our last 18 on the subject of Slavery in Hong Kong.
We feel it is due to our readers to pablish the vital extracta of this com- munication sent by the Colonial Office, and to add suck observations as we feel are warranted by the official information published in the White Paper, Cmd. 3424.
The reply to the Member referred to, containe the following sentences: "The statement that slavery exista in Hong Kong is, of course, untrue, and many of the other statements printed give a quite misleading impression of what the sita- ation 18 and what effort has been, and is being made to improve conditions. It is impossible categorically to deny all the unfounded allegations made in the and similar irresponsible publications; but in correction of the regrettable statements made in the editorial me to the fate of the Mai Tumi in Hong Kong, I am 10 euggest 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 THE WHITE PAPLE?
It would appear that the Colonial Office forget that there has been pubished by H.M. Stationery Office a publication
munications from different Colonial Secre- Laries, reports of the Hong Kong Govern. meut Officials, and the record of the de- bate of the Hong Kong Legislative Coun- cil 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 stalement that alavery exists in Hong Kong was certainly tene during the years 1922 and 1929, and that the onas of proof that Blavery in bow non-existent in this Crown Colony is upon the Colonial Office.
We have, from time to time, published the records of Police Court proceedings in Hong Kong, and in the current issue we publish further extracte and reporte 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 PASSFIELD'S DESPATCH,
In the concluding despatch by Lord Paan- Geld on August 22nd, 1929, addressed to the Governor of Hong Kong, be stated Whilet feeling bound by the traditional polley of this euntry, in regard to soy loerltution that savoury of slavery to take steps for the aboll- tion of the Mut Teal system, nothwithstand- ing hay opposition in the Colony, I need bardly remind you of the desirability of on- lating for a possible Chinese uplason lo favour of the change.
We should
In the statement made by the Colonial Office in reply to a Member of Parliament, it sa Baid "It ta impossible categorically to deny all the unfounded allegations made in this (ie. The Slace Market News) and similar Irresponsible publications." It would be on. lightening if the Colonial Office could state quite clearly what are the "unfunoded alle. pleased to deal with them on receiving lofor. gations made in thle Journal, We shall be
mation giving chapter and verse. also like to ask what is the prectes makeing of the term "irresponsible publicstion." To our knowledge there le no other Anti-Slavery Ilewspaper in existence. The Anti-Slavery Society publish their most excellent Report of Anti-Slavery acblevemants every quarter. It is pertinent to ask what are the names of the "irreepcosihte publications" that are so "actully 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 Mu Tai In Hong Kong." We deal with the Report of the League of Nations Commlesion in other column, and would remind our readers that the decision of the Hong Kong Government made in December, 1931, to close the tolerated brothels in the Colony, was only made possible by the self-sacrificing efforts of noble-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 soder Regulation, that "Some 400 registered houses were kept constantly supplied with girls.' We love 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 bartar, they form the most ready recruits for these houses.
We understand that the Government has undertaken to abolish the tolerated brothals within three years from 1931.
The Colonial Ofica alan states that "The Government has abolished the arcile status of Mui Tau, and has prohibited the acquisition or intruduction into the Colony of Mui Teat," It is significant to note that apparently for the first time, the Colonial Office have now admitted that the status of Mui Tal was n SERVILE STATUS, which in other words 18 davery. We hope that lue note will be made of the ages of girls who in 1983 were produced in police court cases.
A perusal of the Police Court proceedings should serve to show that the status te atil "servile" and that it is quite common thing for a nominal fine to be "inflicted" on the owner of a Mui Teal, who is handed back again, in many cases, to the person who has made money payment for the child. What, however, seems to us to be a most perturbing state of stairs, is that although the Colonial Uffice stated that the Government has pro- hibited the sequisition or introduction of Mu Taai into the Colony, the system is still carried on
WANTED "AN ARMY 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 Colonies, June 20th, 1929. In thle, the Governor stated "The daily abb and flow of population across 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 mainland, present difficulties which can hardly be exaggerated. An army of tapectors with the widest porter 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 Colonial Office that three inspectors have been ap- pointed, and that these Inspectors, two of whom are ladies, have shown that la general girls are contented and well-treated by the employer."
Thus three inspectors are BOT declared to be sufficient for the work wbloh the Governor himself stated in 1929 would require an uriny of inspectors, with the widest power of entry and starch.
Here we have two irreconcilable official statemente atriking at the very root of the Mu: Isal system.
Hundreds of girls capnot
even be traced, as shown in correspondence on our front page.
It is for our readers to decide who makes 'irresponsible statements."
Continued on Page 7
Liou
JAN. 1934.
THE SLAVE MARKET NEWS.
Servitude of Little Children in Ceylon.
15
With the consent of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, there has been issued by the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protec Society, Correspondence with the Government upon the adoption system of Ceylon, which pers In responsible positions in that Colony have declared to be otte of Slavery, because the "adopted child " is often "sold and soid over again "
It is now proposed to issue an Ordinance, under which these children shail be regis Leved, and provision is made for inspection of the "adopted" children in pubhe instit tions, also some liants are proposed to the hours of inbour.
The Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protec tion Preety has pointed out to Philip Cunliffe-Later that this Ordinance makes no provision for the inspection of the conditions of adopted" children generally, that under this Ordinance “adopted” children of seven years can be made to work without any fizestion of their hours of labour during the weak, 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 Society appels to Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister to secure sub- stantial spendtuents to the Ordnance, pending abolition of the system.
CHILD PROTECTION IN CEYLON.* The fourth Annual Report of the Child Protection Socisty shows that uses ui cruelty to children, neglect, and the abuses which arose from the so exled "adoption." for domestic service, still controle, in spite of the efforts of the bociety. The repor cells as the the work is progressing, but only slowly, and such progress has been m the direction of arousing a
healthy pubhe opinion, towards which the attitude taken by niagistrates, in condemning cases of clusity, bassted.
Unfortunately the membership of the Society has decreased, and according to the report of Mr. Valentine Perera, which anexed to that of the Soetety, Child Pro- tection will always remain an unsolved pro Lomas tonal & Children's Ordinance, of which a draft has been prepared and a copy sout tu our Society, has become law. xui Juventie Courts have been stabushed. The Ordinance, which is a simple one, has been carefully drafted and 18 bezig **gosisidered, recul-
sidered, sitared and amended," It deals with the questions of adoption, employinent, cruelty orphanages and voluntary homes, jurenie offengers, certified schools, etc.
While the number of cases of cruelty has hardly at all diminished, wa are informed that the degree of cruelty appears to ba declining. The number of social workers has incressed, but more are required.
Mi. Pereta deals with the aspect vi cruelty ensas. There will wit effective reform, as do the cases in which boạn Kle charged in police courts for minor offences, which are always punished by a cang in- ficted in open court, xfter which no further trouble taken with the tender.
Mc. Perera dwells on this point and asks," What hope is there for child protection under such condition. ↑ "
Children must, he mstatsins,
be protected from birth until they seach at least the age of eighteen years.
Gal orphanages, reformatories, chidren'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 Culouixi Uħee on behalf of the Society :- To:-
6th November, 1933, The Rt. Hon. Sir PHILIP CUNLIFFE-LISTER.
Bir
Our Committee has had under consideration she ystem known as Adoption in Ceylon, and the draft Ordinance for dealing with this system.
The mala purpean of the Ceylon system of adoption nos benevolence, but is "in early every casa" the payment of a lump sum of money for children "for free domestic perriot."*
The layer of Colombo, in 1929, Ia publlo sperol, referred to the system as one amountsy to Plavery. Au Editorial in a Ceylon newspaper ald "the whole system is cruel and the practice mounts to nothing less than alavory." The same Editorial emphasized that these adopted children are treated" mere ohattels by unscrupulous em- players and are bought and said and sold over gain." The Editor in Chief of the Timics of Cayloo, writing in the British Taxes of lith February, 1930, said of adoption "There caquer- bly what amounts to slavery of a truly terrible type."
It le quite clear that the conditions of chia servi- tude do la fnot violate the terms of the Autl- Slavery Convention of 1926. (Bom Lord Crail's explanation of Article 2 of the Slavery Convention League White Paper A. 104. 1926. VI)
Dar purpose, however, in apurosching you is not that of indioting evil, but to enlist your sympathetic support for further amendments to the propose Ordinance.
White glad to note that the Ordinance proper for a regleration of all adopted abildren, we do not abnerre kay provision for inspration other than that of "Home and Enasitution. We therefore beg leave to urge that periodia thepration should be provided for ether in the Ordio-non or by some at her adrainistrative measure. W. hold with the Child Protection Seelaty (Ceylon) ther After all, registrations and Inspections to email return to make for free domestic pervios."
We have noted with congsen that not only is the age limit at which adopted juveniles can be made to work even years, but the Ordioazes places no limle to the hoars which noch juveof-scan be maile to work, beyond the provision that they shall not un Sunday exceed fuur.
It te true that a Local Anihority may maka bye- Jaw limiting the hours of labour.
We cannot bellers that His Majesty's Government will allow an Ordinance with these defeats to be passed Into law in the Onlony of Ceylon without Very considerable amendment.
There is incontrovertible evidence that the system leads to considerable cruelly, the direat result of this system of securing obidren by puroban for free labour.
We hope that the period of the contiqued exis tence of this system will be a short one, but that pooding its early abolition, pruylain will be rande for registration, Inspection, the limiting of the hours of labour and a raising of the age at which children can be made to labour.
We have, ntc.. TRAVERS BUXTON, Hon Serretary JOHN HARRIS, Parliamentary Secretary, *Sea Quarterly Bulletin of the Child Protection
Society of Ceylon, Vol 2, No 1, 1993, p2.
REPLY
Downing Street.
23rd November, 1933
Iam directed by Secretary Siz Philip Gualde- Lieter to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th November, 1983, on the subject of the custom of abild adoption is pruetiaed in Ceylon.
Sir Phillp Cunilife-Lister has no reason to doubt that the Government of Ceylou la aware of the objections to the conditions under which children may be employed in that Irland sa dumentio r. vants, and be has meertained that the Executive Committee for Home Affaire of the Ceylon State Council has appointed a Sub-committee to go into
i
the whole question of the employment of women And children and the system of adoption. He will be for the Executive Committes in the Arab invkance to consider what notion it is desirable to take on the Sub-committee's report when it is received.
A copy of your letter will be sent to the Offer Administering the Goverument of Ceylon for bin informatio", and for communication Executive Committee.
to
the
I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
igned H. E. COWELL.
•From "Par Benorter" of The Anti-Slavery and
Abortjies Protection Society.
mate notable
helog Centenary of
MEETING ON SLAVERY. Among the beganised in delabration of the Britain' delaton to bollsh Slavery, & Sussex Meting to be held in Brighton on Friday evening, February 16th. The Dome has been secured for the purpose ani Sir John Simon bar consented to address this gathering. Arrangements ze beleg made to redure the co-operation of sil the principal towns throughout the County. Further partionlars will be pabilobed in due course. The demonstra- tou in balug organised fainty by the League of Nations Union and the Anti-Slavery Society,
THE SLAVE.
Quer in this life his soul found joy Too desy for words to tell, "He dwelt among his own people,"
And so far all was weil Until the hand of cruel fate At one fi stroke filled life with hate!
Not hatred of his own. Ah no.
They were his pride and care. But of the fun thar drove him fouth
In mis'ry and despair!
A slave, chateal on God's earth, "Twele belter he had ne'er knowu birth.
Home, wife, and children, he must lenta,
Maybe see them no more,
In buter bondage his days pASU Upon a foreign shora! Despised, ill used, and oven slain By traders ins desh-for gain? Shorn of all rights which manhood gives,
To live and be his best.
The charter of kw freedom, too.
Denied by Christ conferaed No matter what his colour be, A cbd of God, no less is he,
By earth, by man, cast out and spurned,
A belpless creature. ke,
•
By might
not "right," enslaved and obained,
Will none now sat him free? Let such destroy the fendish mart, Lest still man the Christ-wounds smart,
Millions who once breathed freedom's air,
Were raided, bought and suld, And died not in a noble cause,
Whose wrongs were manifold! Lat not the hour now strike in vain, The slave's birthright give back again!
THE REY, JOHN R. PALMER, Latt.D. Gratwich Rectory. Uttoxeter, Staff
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