CO129-469 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1921 [9-12] — Page 233

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28710/21

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Mr Bagg

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16.

18.

To ask the Secretary of State for she Colonles, 11 ne vill make an investigation as to shetner, under the all isai path of Hong Long, thu mui tai Til of any household do, upon the death of the omur, becme the property of concubines in the household, and are dispossi of by thes for cash, with other siments in the estate of the decessed

226

GADAT.

Charles Lazerda: To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether the records of the Colonial Office snow that mui teal of Hong Kong, of quite tender years, are free sally compelled to labur över là hairs a day, and that cases have been established in the open dort where these children have be-m forced to work up to as long as 18 and 30 hours in one day

21st March. 1933.

Mr. Chy

ጉር

The House will recollect that I asked honour «ble member a to postpone their questions on this subject in order that I might communicate with the Governor of Hong Kong. The recent opcurrence in the Colony have unfortunately prevented either the Governor or ayself from dealing with this matter se expeditiously as I had hoped, but I have now received a telegram from the Governor atat- ing that his Goverment in conmultation with the Societies for the Protsation and for the abolition of Mui Tsai will draw up a scheme for the sholition of the system as soon as possible. Both the Governant and the Societies point out that this prouess must take some little time. I have directed the issue without delay of a proclamation making it clear to mployers and employed that

the status of mɛi tani as understood in China, will not in future be recognised in Hong Kong and in partioa lar that no compulsion

of any kind to prevent girls over the age of 13 lesving their adopted parents at any time will be allowed. It has been pointed out to me by the Government and the Societies that the issue of this proclamation will involve some risks of exposing a number of girls to the wiles of unscrupulous persons and that before the girls are mocuraged to leave their employers it sould be vary It desirable to have some scheme to provide for their future.

is indeed obvious in view of the mmbers involved that it will be beyond the power either of charitable institutions or of the Goverment to deal adequately with the situation should any large proportion desire to leave their present homes imediately.

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