CO129-139 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [8-12] — Page 26

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

with the best motives by an official servant of the British Crown to restore a woman, who had escaped to this place from a master residing in a city on the Mainland. The girl complained to me of his cruelty so bitterly that she declared her determination to commit suicide if forced to return to him. The Official in question however actually reiterated his request that the woman should be sent back whether she wished it or not, because as she had been bought, her Master has acquired a right of property in her of which it would be unfair to deprive him.

Under these circumstances and seeing the strong feeling of the Chinese themselves in the matter and the actual ancient practice of their nation to sell and buy girls and export them wherever they may be in the greatest demand, and on the other hand loathing the efforts which this Government has made specially to discountenance such practices I think the Chinese Authorities who uphold those usages by the sanction of law are the parties mainly answerable for the results.

4. Your Excellency perceives that so far I have been dealing with general principles which influence the Chinese in these matters and have sought to explain how in my opinion the national usages of the Empire underlie

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23 with the best motives by an official servant of the British Crown to restore a woman, who had escaped to this place from a master residing in a city on the Mainland. The girl complained to me of his cruelty so bitterly that she declared her determination to commit suicide if forced to return to him. The Official in question however actually reiterated his request that the woman should be sent back whether she wished it or not, because as she had been bought, her Master has acquired a right of property in her of which it would be unfair to deprive him. Under these circumstances and seeing the strong feeling of the Chinese themselves in the matter and the actual ancient practice of their nation to sell and buy girls and export them wherever they may be in the greatest demand, and on the other hand loathing the efforts which this Government has made specially to discountenance such practices I think the Chinese Authorities who uphold those usages by the sanction of law are the parties mainly answerable for the results. 4. Your Excellency perceives that so far I have been dealing with general principles which influence the Chinese in these matters and have sought to explain how in my opinion the national usages of the Empire underlie

Baseline (Original)

$ 23 with the best matives by an official servant of the British brown to restore who had escaped to this a woman, place from a master residing in a city on the Mainland. The girl complained to me of his of his cruelty so bitterly that she declared her determination to commiti -Suicide if forced to return to him. The Official in question however actually reiterated his request that the woman should be sent back whether she wished it or not, because as she had been her Master has acquired a bought -right of "prafurty in her of which it unfair to deprive him. d. Under these circumstances and seing the strong feeling of the Chinese themselves in the matter and the actual as well مة ancient practice of their nation to sell and buy girls and export julo them wherever they may be in the greatest demand, and on the other hand loothing to the efforts which this Quemment has made specially to discountenance such practices I think the lokinese Authorities who uphold those. the sanction of law are the parties mainly answerable for the results. usages by 4. Your Excellency perceives that so far I have been deceling with general principles which influence the Chinese in these matters and have sought to explain how in my opinion the national usages of the Empire underlie 14

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with the best matives by an official servant of the British brown to restore

who had escaped to this

a woman,

place from a master residing in a city on the Mainland. The girl complained to me of his

of his cruelty so bitterly that she

declared her determination to commiti -Suicide if forced to return to him. The Official in question however actually reiterated his request that the woman should be sent back whether she wished it or not, because as she had been

her Master has

acquired

bought -right of "prafurty in her of which it

unfair to deprive him.

Under these circumstances and

seing the strong feeling of the Chinese

themselves in the matter and the actual

as well

مة

ancient

practice of their nation to sell and buy girls and export

julo them wherever they may

be in the

greatest demand, and on the other hand loothing to the efforts which this Quemment has made specially to discountenance such practices I think the lokinese Authorities who uphold those. the sanction of law

are the parties mainly answerable for the results.

usages by

4. Your Excellency perceives that so far I have been deceling with general principles which influence the Chinese in these matters and have sought to

explain how in my opinion the

national

usages

of the Empire underlie

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