CO129-449 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1918 [7-9] — Page 256

the natural guardians would probably accept a small premium if the liability to refund it on redemption

were to disappear.

The Governor might say to this "you are simply

I should substituting ordinary domestic service".

reply, "Why not"? A kind of service which is no longer tolerated in China should disappear from Hong Kong and the only alternative is domestic service on the ordinary civilised lines.

If the "mui tsai" custom can be defended at all it is, as the Governor defends, it, as one producing

lome

a status in fact, established by lolluse, convenient and acceptable to the Chinese in Hong Kong, and un- attended by serious abuse.

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I have re-read the Russell report, but it appears to me that the one valid defence of this custom, viz. that it is part of the Chinese patriachal system similar to the Roman patria potestas, and as such law- ful in Hong Kong, is knocked out if the custom is no longer legal in China,

In the first place I think we ought definitely to ascertain from the Governor whether it is true that the Chinese Republic has now declared the custom to be

illegal.

assume that the custom is resorted to only

by the Chinese in Hong Kong and that by "every house- hold in Hong Kong" (see beginning of paragraph 2) the Governor means every Chinese household in Hong Kong. Cf. the passage already cited from the Hong Kong Weekly

Press of 2nd February 1918.]

12/10/18

End of para 2 of de

253

I agree with Mr. Risley, but I would give the Gov.

a definite load in the direction of the reforms

indicated without de pending too much on whether

this system of service has or has not been de→

clared illegal in China. Taings are: often made ille-

gal or abolished in China and yet continue: in fact

to exist vigorously.

A difficulty about this matter is that the

Chinese will stand most things, but will stand

least of all interference with their family af-

fairs. For that reason we interfere in these 'af-

fairs as little as possible; and the Chinese: left to

themselves by the Govt. do in fact exercise a

1

great deal of control over the conduct of their

neighbours and can bring great pressure to bear

on them. The protection of these girls by neigh-

bours is therefore an important consideration,

though to us such protection seems very inadequate.

Reform in this matter is a ticklian affair, and

it is important to enlist the Gov.'s co-operation

and guidance; Fortimately Sir E. May has had 37

years' experience of the Chinese and 3. Kong.

We must I suppose let Mr. Appleton know how

matters stand.

Arc

I think wa

fre

15.10.18

draft to her. Cappleton the basis that slavery is illegal that

.