CO129-211 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1883 [8-9] — Page 161

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

(10)

5o It has been shown that the laws have been amended from time to time to the utmost limit to protect women and girls and children against forced or fraudulent emigration or sales for purposes of prostitution, (see Ordinance 2 of 1875, annexed).

6o It has been shown that the supervision of brothels, the instructing the registered women as to their rights, and the system of photographing registered prostitutes and women and children who intend to emigrate, have done much good and that there has been an enormous reduction in the kidnapping cases and selling women for prostitution since the introduction of those measures, convictions being 29 persons in 1882 as against 68 in a former year, and only 4 up to the present date.

7o It has been shown that there are fatal objections to the registration of children purchased for adoption or domestic service, and it is suggested that the Registrar General and a Chinese Committee should investigate cases of a suspicious nature with power to call upon "pocket-mothers" to give security for their bona fides towards "pocket-daughters"; also that the Registrar General should be able to apply to a Judge in Chambers for a writ of Habeas Corpus with the view of taking away from improper custodians a purchased child. It is also suggested that stone tablets stating the law of freedom on English soil should be erected in places of public resort.

(11)

APPENDIX TO REPORT ON CHILD ADOPTION AND DOMESTIC SERVICE AMONGST THE HONGKONG CHINESE.

A.---Form of transfer of a son for adoption, taken from "Book of Domestic Rites."
B.-Letter of Instructions to an adopted son, stating how he was adopted.
C.-Deed of Sale, in the case of the adoption of a Stranger-in-blood.

156

D.-Bill of Sale where a boy was decoyed from Canton and sold in Kaulung. The Hawker's case, see page 33 of Blue-book C3185 of 1882, (two women sentenced to 18 months' each).

E.-Deed of Sale of a daughter as a Servant, from "Book of Domestic Rites."
F.-Endorsement of Re-sale of a Servant, from "Book of Domestic Rites."
G.-Deed mortgaging a Daughter as a Servant.

H.-Deed of Sale of a Daughter as Servant, where same girl is transferred to another, endorsement on the same paper.

I.-"Presentation Card" of a Daughter to be a Servant (Money passes, and the term 'present' is of course only a fiction).

J.-Bill of Sale put forward by a Claimant for a Child.

K.-Sale of a grown-up daughter as a concubine from Sir T. Wade's Documentary Series.
L.-Ordinance 6 of 1873, with statement of objects and reasons.
M.-Ordinance 2 of 1875, with statement amended.

N.-Notices to Registered Prostitutes, of their freedom on British soil however they may have got there.

O.-Emigration Officer's Notices of photographs required to prevent personation of Women and Children, who have duly passed for Emigration.

P.-Return of Kidnapping cases in Hongkong from 1872 to June 30th, 1883, including sales of women for prostitutes.

Q.-Return of Kidnapping cases in Hongkong from January, 1883, to July, 1883, including sales of women for prostitutes.

R.-Notices on Steamers with view to prevent kidnapping into or from Hongkong.

Hongkong, 18th July, 1883.

J. RUSSELL.

A.

Form from the Vol. 12 of "Ka-lai-tai-tsün or 'Complete Set of Domestic Rites'."

TRANSFER OF A SON FOR ADOPTION.

This agreement is drawn up by [name], who has a second son aged [age], clan [clan], being in want of posterity, selects (this son) to be his son. A senior member of the clan, [name], and my wife [name], a junior member of the clan, years [age]. do hereby give our consent to our second son going over to his family to be brought up by his wife in order to continue his family line. I have, this day, in conjunction with my wife, received [amount] dollars for nursing my son, who will this day enter the family, and will obey the directions of the senior member and his wife. When he has attained to manhood, he will be married, and his offspring will for ever be considered the descendants of the senior member. The family inheritance is not to be squandered nor wasted in profligacy by him, and no others are to usurp the same under any pretext whatsoever. This is agreed to by both parties. In future, I will neither go back on my word, nor instigate (the son) to rebel, nor to leave (the family of the senior member) with abundance after he came to it empty handed, nor will I depart from what has been agreed on. But my desire is that he may have a continuous line of descendants. In proof whereof, this agreement is drawn up.

Dated [date].

Signed... Transferor of the son.

Signed... Nearest relatives.

Signed... Go-between.

Signed... Witness to the adoption.

Signed... Wife of the Transferor.

Signed... Elder brother of the son.

Edit History

2026-05-23 15:29:43 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
Live
View comparison
AI Proofread
(10) 5o It has been shown that the laws have been amended from time to time to the utmost limit to protect women and girls and children against forced or fraudulent emigration or sales for purposes of prostitution, (see Ordinance 2 of 1875, annexed). 6o It has been shown that the supervision of brothels, the instructing the registered women as to their rights, and the system of photographing registered prostitutes and women and children who intend to emigrate, have done much good and that there has been an enormous reduction in the kidnapping cases and selling women for prostitution since the introduction of those measures, convictions being 29 persons in 1882 as against 68 in a former year, and only 4 up to the present date. 7o It has been shown that there are fatal objections to the registration of children purchased for adoption or domestic service, and it is suggested that the Registrar General and a Chinese Committee should investigate cases of a suspicious nature with power to call upon "pocket-mothers" to give security for their bona fides towards "pocket-daughters"; also that the Registrar General should be able to apply to a Judge in Chambers for a writ of Habeas Corpus with the view of taking away from improper custodians a purchased child. It is also suggested that stone tablets stating the law of freedom on English soil should be erected in places of public resort. (11) APPENDIX TO REPORT ON CHILD ADOPTION AND DOMESTIC SERVICE AMONGST THE HONGKONG CHINESE. A.---Form of transfer of a son for adoption, taken from "Book of Domestic Rites." B.-Letter of Instructions to an adopted son, stating how he was adopted. C.-Deed of Sale, in the case of the adoption of a Stranger-in-blood. 156 D.-Bill of Sale where a boy was decoyed from Canton and sold in Kaulung. The Hawker's case, see page 33 of Blue-book C3185 of 1882, (two women sentenced to 18 months' each). E.-Deed of Sale of a daughter as a Servant, from "Book of Domestic Rites." F.-Endorsement of Re-sale of a Servant, from "Book of Domestic Rites." G.-Deed mortgaging a Daughter as a Servant. H.-Deed of Sale of a Daughter as Servant, where same girl is transferred to another, endorsement on the same paper. I.-"Presentation Card" of a Daughter to be a Servant (Money passes, and the term 'present' is of course only a fiction). J.-Bill of Sale put forward by a Claimant for a Child. K.-Sale of a grown-up daughter as a concubine from Sir T. Wade's Documentary Series. L.-Ordinance 6 of 1873, with statement of objects and reasons. M.-Ordinance 2 of 1875, with statement amended. N.-Notices to Registered Prostitutes, of their freedom on British soil however they may have got there. O.-Emigration Officer's Notices of photographs required to prevent personation of Women and Children, who have duly passed for Emigration. P.-Return of Kidnapping cases in Hongkong from 1872 to June 30th, 1883, including sales of women for prostitutes. Q.-Return of Kidnapping cases in Hongkong from January, 1883, to July, 1883, including sales of women for prostitutes. R.-Notices on Steamers with view to prevent kidnapping into or from Hongkong. Hongkong, 18th July, 1883. J. RUSSELL. A. Form from the Vol. 12 of "Ka-lai-tai-tsün or 'Complete Set of Domestic Rites'." TRANSFER OF A SON FOR ADOPTION. This agreement is drawn up by [name], who has a second son aged [age], clan [clan], being in want of posterity, selects (this son) to be his son. A senior member of the clan, [name], and my wife [name], a junior member of the clan, years [age]. do hereby give our consent to our second son going over to his family to be brought up by his wife in order to continue his family line. I have, this day, in conjunction with my wife, received [amount] dollars for nursing my son, who will this day enter the family, and will obey the directions of the senior member and his wife. When he has attained to manhood, he will be married, and his offspring will for ever be considered the descendants of the senior member. The family inheritance is not to be squandered nor wasted in profligacy by him, and no others are to usurp the same under any pretext whatsoever. This is agreed to by both parties. In future, I will neither go back on my word, nor instigate (the son) to rebel, nor to leave (the family of the senior member) with abundance after he came to it empty handed, nor will I depart from what has been agreed on. But my desire is that he may have a continuous line of descendants. In proof whereof, this agreement is drawn up. Dated [date]. Signed... Transferor of the son. Signed... Nearest relatives. Signed... Go-between. Signed... Witness to the adoption. Signed... Wife of the Transferor. Signed... Elder brother of the son.
Baseline (Original)
( 10 ) 5o It has been shewn that the laws have been amended from time to time to the utmost limit to protect women and girls and children against forced or fraudu- lent emigration or sales for purposes of prostitution, (see Ordinance 2 of 1875, annexed). 6o It has been shewn that the supervision of brothels, the instructing the registered women as to their rights, and the system of photographing registered prostitutes and women and children who intend to emigrate, have done much good and that there has been an enormous reduction in the kidnapping cases and selling women for prostitution since the introduction of those measures, convictions being 29 persons in 1882 as against 68 in a former year, and only 4 up to the present date. It bas been shown that there are fatul objections to the registration of children purchased for adoption or domestic service, and it is suggested that the Registrar General and a Chinese Committee should investigate cases of a suspicious nature with power to call upon "pocket-mothers" to give security for their bond fides towards "pocket-daughters"; also that the Registrar General should be able to apply to a Judge in Chambers for a writ of Habeas Corpus with the view of taking away from improper custodians a purchased child. It is also suggested that stone tablets stating the law of freedom on English soil should be erected in places of public resort. (11) APPENDIX TO REPORT ON CHILD ADOPTION AND DOMESTIC SERVICE AMONGST THE HONGKONG CHINESE. A.---Form of transfer of a son for adoption, taken from "Book of Domestic Rites." B.-Letter of Instructions to an adopted son, stating how he was adopted. C.-Deed of Sale, in the case of the adoption of a Stranger-in-blood. 156 D.-Bill of Sale where a boy was decoyed from Canton and sold in Kaulung. The Hawker's case, see page 33 of Blue-book C 3185 of 1882, (two women sentenced to 18 months' each). E-Deed of Sale of a daughter as a Servant, from "Book of Domestic Rites." F.-Endorsement of Re-sale of a Servant, from "Book of Domestic Rites." G.-Deed mortgaging a Daughter as a Servant. H.-Deed of Sale of a Daughter as Servant, where same girl is transferred to another, endorse- ment on the same paper. I.-"Presentation Card" of a Daughter to be a Servant (Money passes, and the term present is of course only a fiction), J.Bill of Sale put forward by a Claimant for a Chiki. K.-Sale of a grown-up daughter as a concubine from Sir T. WADE's Documentary Series. L.-Ordinance 6 of 1873, with statement of objects and reasons. M.-Ordinance 2 of 1875, with statement amended. N.-Notices to Registered Prostitutes, of their freedom on British soil however they may have got there. -Emigration Officer's Notices of photographs required to prevent personation of Women and Children, who have duly passed for Emigration. P.-Return of Kidnapping cases in Hongkong from 1872 to June 30th, 1888, including sales of women for prostitutes. -Return of Kidnapping cases in Hongkong from January, 1883, to July, 1883, including sales of women for prostitutes. R.-Notices on Steamers with view to prevent kidnapping into or from Hongkong. Hongkong, 18th July, 1883. J. RUSSELL. A. Form from the Vol. 12 of " Ka-lai-tai-tsün or" Complete Set of Domestic Rites." TRANSFER OF A SON FOR ADOPTION. This agreement is drawn up by who has a second son aged clan, being in want of posterity, selects (this son) to be his son. and my wife a junior member of the clan years. A senior member of the do hereby give our consent to our second son going over to his family to be brought up by his wife in order to continue his family line. I have, this day, in conjunction with my wife, received dollars for nursing my son, who will this day enter the family, and will obey the directions of the senior member and his wife. When be has attained to manhood, he will be married, and his offspring will for ever be considered the descendants of the senior member. The family inheritance is not to be squandered nor wasted in profligacy by him, and no others are to usurp the same under any pretext whatsoever. This is agreed to by both parties. In future, I will neither go back on my word, nor instigate (the son) to rebel, nor to leave (the family of the senior member) with abundance after he came to it empty handed, nor will I depart from what has been agreed on. But my desire is that he may have a continuous line of descendants. In proof whereof, this agreement is drawn up, Dated Signed. Transferor of the son. Signed Nearest relatives. Signed... Go-between. Signed Witness to the adoption. Signed Wife of the Transferor. Signed Elder brother of the son.
2026-05-23 15:29:43 · Baseline
View content

( 10 )

5o It has been shewn that the laws have been amended from time to time to the utmost limit to protect women and girls and children against forced or fraudu- lent emigration or sales for purposes of prostitution, (see Ordinance 2 of 1875, annexed).

6o It has been shewn that the supervision of brothels, the instructing the registered women as to their rights, and the system of photographing registered prostitutes and women and children who intend to emigrate, have done much good and that there has been an enormous reduction in the kidnapping cases and selling women for prostitution since the introduction of those measures, convictions being 29 persons in 1882 as against 68 in a former year, and only 4 up to the present

date.

7° It bas been shown that there are fatul objections to the registration of children purchased for adoption or domestic service, and it is suggested that the Registrar General and a Chinese Committee should investigate cases of a suspicious nature with power to call upon "pocket-mothers" to give security for their bond fides towards "pocket-daughters"; also that the Registrar General should be able to apply to a Judge in Chambers for a writ of Habeas Corpus with the view of taking away from improper custodians a purchased child. It is also suggested that stone tablets stating the law of freedom on English soil should be erected in places of public resort.

(11)

APPENDIX TO REPORT ON CHILD ADOPTION AND DOMESTIC

SERVICE AMONGST THE HONGKONG CHINESE.

A.---Form of transfer of a son for adoption, taken from "Book of Domestic Rites." B.-Letter of Instructions to an adopted son, stating how he was adopted. C.-Deed of Sale, in the case of the adoption of a Stranger-in-blood.

156

D.-Bill of Sale where a boy was decoyed from Canton and sold in Kaulung. The Hawker's case, see page 33 of Blue-book C 3185 of 1882, (two women sentenced to 18 months' each).

E-Deed of Sale of a daughter as a Servant, from "Book of Domestic Rites." F.-Endorsement of Re-sale of a Servant, from "Book of Domestic Rites." G.-Deed mortgaging a Daughter as a Servant.

H.-Deed of Sale of a Daughter as Servant, where same girl is transferred to another, endorse-

ment on the same paper.

I.-"Presentation Card" of a Daughter to be a Servant (Money passes, and the term present

is of course only a fiction),

J.Bill of Sale put forward by a Claimant for a Chiki.

K.-Sale of a grown-up daughter as a concubine from Sir T. WADE's Documentary Series. L.-Ordinance 6 of 1873, with statement of objects and reasons. M.-Ordinance 2 of 1875, with statement amended.

N.-Notices to Registered Prostitutes, of their freedom on British soil however they may have

got there.

-Emigration Officer's Notices of photographs required to prevent personation of Women

and Children, who have duly passed for Emigration.

P.-Return of Kidnapping cases in Hongkong from 1872 to June 30th, 1888, including sales

of women for prostitutes.

-Return of Kidnapping cases in Hongkong from January, 1883, to July, 1883, including

sales of women for prostitutes.

R.-Notices on Steamers with view to prevent kidnapping into or from Hongkong.

Hongkong, 18th July, 1883.

J. RUSSELL.

A.

Form from the Vol. 12 of " Ka-lai-tai-tsün

or" Complete Set of Domestic Rites."

TRANSFER OF A SON FOR ADOPTION.

This agreement is drawn up by who has a second son

aged

clan, being in want of posterity, selects (this son) to be his son. and my wife

a junior member of the clan years. A senior member of the

do hereby give our consent to our second son going over to his family to be brought up by his wife in order to continue his family line. I have, this day, in conjunction with my wife, received

dollars for nursing my son, who

will this day enter the family, and will obey the directions of the senior member and his wife. When be has attained to manhood, he will be married, and his offspring will for ever be considered the descendants of the senior member. The family inheritance is not to be squandered nor wasted in profligacy by him, and no others are to usurp the same under any pretext whatsoever. This is agreed to by both parties. In future, I will neither go back on my word, nor instigate (the son) to rebel, nor to leave (the family of the senior member) with abundance after he came to it empty handed, nor will I depart from what has been agreed on. But my desire is that he may have a continuous line of descendants. In proof whereof, this agreement is drawn up,

Dated

Signed.

Transferor of the son.

Signed

Nearest relatives.

Signed...

Go-between.

Signed

Witness to the adoption.

Signed

Wife of the Transferor.

Signed

Elder brother of the son.

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.