sir,
534
CHILD SLAVERY IN HONG-KONG.
The question of child-slavery in Hong-Kong has been brought very prominently to the notice of the public lately by many questions in Parliament and the condemnation of the system by articles in the Press both here and in Hong-Kong-
A reply given by the Colonial Office to questions regarding the buying and selling of Chinese girls and children in Hong-Kong was as follows:-
"Buying and selling of human beings does not take place openly in Hong-Kong, A custom does exist there, as elsewhere in China, by which, in return for a money payment, girls are transferred by their parents or natural guardians to the care of another household, usually for the purpose of domestic service, though the transaction is described by the Chinese as a form of adoption."
Outside official circles it is hard to believe that anyone can distinguish the difference between the transfer of a girl for a money payment and actual buying and selling.
From personal experience and inquiries in Hong-Kong I can vouch for the fact that, sheltering under the above so- called "custom", the most revolting abuses in the traffic of girls and children are openly carried out.
It is quite evident that a large trade exists, as "go-betweens" or brokers are employed for the sale and purchasO of these unfortunate girls and children, and it is a commor practice to buy a girl when only a few years old and later to re-sell her at a substantial profit.
The fact that large numbers of these girls are sold into the local houses of ill-fame, and are shipped overseas for the same purpose, is perfectly well-known to the whole shipping community, and equally well-known to those of the local inhabitants who have made any inquiries on the subject.
The Under-Secretary has also admitted in Parliament that there are no provisions controlling the amount of work which a child may be called upon to do, nor any limit of hours for which a child may be called upon to work, nor any legislation to prevent these children from being employed at work obviously injurious to health.
It is intolerable that such a state of slavery should exist in a British Colony, and I appeal to men and women all over the world to actively protest against the continuation of such a system in the British Empire. I fear that nothing but consistent and concentrated effort in the above direction will shake the apathetic attitude taken up by British officials in Hong Kong.
I, Sir, etc.
H. L. HASLEWOOD.
Lieut-Commander, R.F.
(Retired).
Whitchurch,
Reading.
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