CO129-446 - Others & Individuals - 1917 — Page 362

Gatofg

C

H

RM

5th September, 1917,

357

Dear Appleton,

every

Since I wrote you upon the question of slavery in Hong

Kong, there has been much controversy on the subject. The

"Evening Telegraph" has taken a very clear stand against it.

describing the slave trade as a business beneath the dignity

of a British colony and nauseating to xxxy. decent minded

nglishman. The other Hong Kong paper the "South China Mail"

at first excused the existence of slavery in the Colony and

then boldly supported the principle on the old South American

slave owners plea of "what will become of the poor ignorant

clave if he is set free?" So that we are actually taking

rides upon this horrible problem in a British colony to-day

1917.

bat as your members will have seen, (if you have printed

my last letter) the most sinister and plausable defence of the

Hong Kong slave trade is that made by the Chief Justice of

the Colony in open Court, (Sir William Rees Javies) to the

affect that, as we had agreed at the taking over of Hong Kong

from the Chinese government, to recognise all Chinese

ceremonies and social customs. The buying and selling of human

beings being a Chines custon, we are bound to tolerate this

cuatom. It may be British law, but it certainly has no

resemblance to the fundamental law of England.

i