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in the case was the girl's own mother.
(3) See Secretary for Chinese Affairs' minute. The girl
was handed back to her mother.
(4) The lady referred to is presumably Miss Pitts (not Pitt). Miss Pitts is a lady of the highest character and a most zealous missionary. It is impossible however to "consider carefully", as Lieutenant Commander Haslewood suggests, statements of a vague and general character,
(5) This is a case of what in Europe would be called the "white slave traffic". It has no bearing whatever on the
"mui tsai" question.
(6) This case also has no bearing on the "mai tsai" question, the children concerned being the sons of the defendants.
The question raised by such cases as this is a far more important one then the so-called "slavery" question. There is no doubt that little children are constantly employed in work which is beyond their strength but the matter is a very difficult one to deal with. The poverty of the lower classes in China is such that the loss of the few cents earned by child labour would be a serious hardship to the family and it is probable that in many cases the children would not be reared at all if it were impossible for them to be employed at an early age. The possibility of regulating their employment has engaged my attention since I arrived in Hongkong and I am now appointing a Commission to advise as to the feasibility of
legislation.
(7) The question of work in factories will be considered by the Commission to which I have referred. The matter is one of considerable difficulty. In many cases children are employ- -od on light tasks in workshops because it is impossible for the parents to leave them alone, while they are at work, and they cannot afford to pay anybody to look after them. I hope
that
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