CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6] — Page 243

242

TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of

considered advisath it might be limited to the firsts live of thisted. with the

promess of a further letter hen the deaf.

quins

The patria potistes is all oney will to

replan" domestic slevox," acconey of the Close wi Chunc but it wont to

for

Chiuse survant's in European (other househotos in It. Koney. This was navanized by the Crow in 1883

and the position in the same

İLOLU

•

If the legal front raised in the cause the

Appleton took up had actually bases decided,

it appears from this tit. that the

Arcation we have your lo

frutier

years

thraen that the trustee was "in

lawful possession" of the matoservant

as amount the kidnapper

but not otherwis

J.A.

ACC 2/45:48 21-5.1818/5/18

G.S.2

Mr Kallerton

Yes

yor Mr. 21.5

a.

5971

Gov

State for the Colonies.

Dated 14th May, 1918.

28760

REC

(Received Colonial Office 6.35 a.m. 1 1.19 18 )

With reference to your confidential despatch December 5th 1917, custom of purchasing female domestic servants 17.

exists over all China and many households in Hong Kong have

19 But such servants. By the law of Hong Kong does not recognise purchase as conferring any uitle or right whatsoever.

G remains

There

are two apparent exceptions, one, that for purpose of punishing kidnappers the Mistress of a maidservant has in certain cases been treated as having the lawful care of the maidservant as against the kidnapper but not on grounds of purchase. Two. that under Section 32 of Ordinance No.4 of 1897 the Secretary for Chinese affairs sometimes allows purchased female domestic servants re-entrance with the purchasers as the only way practicable to deal with them. The girls are absolutely free in law as against the purchasers. In cases of ill-treatment they are removed. See Russell's report forwarded with Governor's despatch August 15th 1883, Number 189. Despatch 3 follows.

16422/18371

MAY.

تي

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