CO129-468 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1921 [6-8] — Page 603

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Extract from the

Loman's Leader

27. Oktober 1921

Child Slavery in Hong-Kong.

Those who have followed the course of events with regard to the child slavery in Hong-Kong, both in the House of Parliament and in the Colony itself, will be interested to know that a mass meeting was convened there on July 30th last by the chief supporter of the "mui tsai" custom in the Colony, the Hon. Mr. Lau Chu Pak, an unofficial member of the Legislative Council, and the chief adviser of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, and (in all matters relating to the Chinese) of the Governor himself. In giving notice of the meeting he issued an invitation to "discuss our old practice of keeping servant girls" (which is his descrip- tion of this custom, which is so contrary to British ideals of freedom and justice), and 500 Chinese availed themselves of it. For one hour and twenty minutes he pressed the following points upon his audience. That because this custom goes on unchecked in China, therefore it was not forbidden by Chinese law. (The Under-Secretary for the Colonies stated in the House on May 4th, 1921, that this custom is illegal in China.) That this practice is, in the greater number of instances, a presenta- tion (for money, be it noted !) and not a sale. He did not add, what was subsequently stated by Dr. Yeung, that the presentation is permitted to go further still, and the possessor of a "mui tsai can make a present of her to somebody else, if he has a mind to! Mr. Lau Chu Pak said further that because buying for prostitution is forbidden by law, therefore it does not take place with regard to "mui tsai," but only in the case of children who are bought for "adoption." (The Colonial Office repeatedly deny that there is any connection between the "adopt: children in Hong-Kong and the purchase for immoral purposes. On December 8th, 1920, Mir Amery spoke

of these children as "adopted daughters " in replying to Mr. Shortt. Now, we have the chief viser in Chinese matters to the Hong-Kong Government stating in public that "those who buy and keep girls for prostitution generally make special arrangements with the girls' parents, and pay higher prices for them, and in some cases they pretend to buy for adoption.") The Hon. Mr. Lau Chu Pak declared at a later point in the proceedings that if the mui tsai" system were suppressed, the concubine system would also have to go. This remark of his, and, indeed, the whole subject, leaves one pondering,

Champion for the Mui Tsai.

11

It is refreshing to learn that a Chinese gentleman, Dr. Yeung Shiu-chuen, spoke against this infamous custom and championed the cause of the mui tsai." He said that it could not be denied that some "mui tsai were bought with the intention of reselling them as prostitutes, and that the practice of the direct selling of "mui tsai" for prostitution was called ise chu fa, the girls being described not as "mui tsai" but as adopted daughters." The custom, he said, was the greatest feeder of the brothels, and the degradation of human beings, their kid- napping or sale, would never be checked while the mui tsai" system existed. As to the use of the "mui tsai" for sexual purposes by their masters, he said that they were frequently taken as concubines. The "mui tsai" must have someone to fight their battles for them, for they are quite unable to fight them for themselves. Enumerating the hardships which **mui tsai frequently suffer, Dr. Yeung proceeded: They have no liberty, but must give complete obedience to their masters; owners can chastise them, whether justly or unjustly; any complaint by the 'mui tsai' means extra punishment; the 'mui tsai' is under the orders of several members of the household, and is often whipped for not carrying out conflicting orders; they sometimes kept up all night to fan the mistress of the house, the while she played the game of

Al 'ma check. If the girl dozed she would be punished." this is a most serious indictment against the domestic custom of "adopting girls, and it is obvious that it requires the most careful investigation on the spot. Legal measures, as well as inquiry, are no doubt necessary, but the first step should be the establishment of a Commission of British and Chinese ladies in Hong-Kong, to report on the actual situation of these children. In addition, a Foundlings' Home and Industrial Colony should be established, for the fact that in a territory over which the itish have jurisdiction child-hawkers throng the streets, is "Hip" in "buch we ought not to tolerate for a moment.

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