546
Mui Tsai (servant girls) in Hong Kong.
>
For some time past there has been a
campaign of misrepresentation in this country as
to the custom of adopting girl domestica in Hong-
Kong,payment being made to the parents on adoption. It is over and over again stated that this custom
is tolerated in Hong Kong whereas it has been declared illegal (and by inference abolished) in China generally. The fact is that the custom pre-
Centrally
vail in China, with no such protection for the
t
girls as is provided in Hong Kong. It is true that since the revolution in China a law was passed to
abolish the custom as previously prevailing from time immemorial, and substituting anotner system which provided for practically the rame thing, but no attempts been or is being made to enforce the schnical, illegality of the old custom or to ensure that the modifications in the above law are observe
The custom in Hong Kong is not recogised by the law of the Colony, which is the law of Engla and gives the adopting employer no right at all af against the girl. The impossibility however of terminating the custom is as great in Hong Kong ae in China generally. It springs fran economic condˆ«« tions whià cannot be altered by Government action,
The great majority of Chinese families are ho poor that all the children cannot be reared by their
parents. It is necessary therefore for them to paì
with some of their girls in order that these may be provided with sustenance, and the sum of money which they receive on placing them out is of
Casenti
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.