CO129-449 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1918 [7-9] — Page 259

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their ordinary meaning is perhaps 'document of presentation". The subject of the deed is not a 'no puk', a chattel, but a "mui tsai" servant girl. The children of a 'no puk' remain 'no puk: the children of a "mui taai" are free from my stigma.

the phrase used

South

The position is not altered even though commonly in the North, but rarely in the

may be "mai tip", "document of sale'; a phrase used in no other connection. The conditions of treatment are expected to be the same: but owing to difficulties of travel, or changes of address, it is recognised that the legal guardians cannot keep in touch, and no redemption is allowed for. This system ofthe North affects Hongkong, however, to no smallextent. The more serious disasters occur in the North, and at such times children are brought to the South refugeer they might almost be called whose natural guardians it is impossible to trace. In such cases all the safeguards detail- -ed above cannot of course exist, but the community and the neighbours would appear to quicken their interest in the

children concerned, and in Hongkong at my rate it is probable that few cases of illtreatment in such circumstances ramain

unreported for any length of time.

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It should be clearly understood that the

status referred to above is a status in fact and not in law,

for the law of the Colony does not recognise the transfer as

conferring my right or title whatsoever on the employer as

against the girl.

3.

It was no doubt in view of these facts

that section 32 of Ordinace 4 of 1897 was enacted: and the

section leaves it to be inferred that such transfer is a

custom it is impossible to abolish and by giving certain

powers limiting the authority of the natural guardian in

connection with it would seem so far to recognise it: if only

by omitting to take measures for its suppression.

Recognition of this limited nature is

indeed