CO129-472 - Others - 1921 — Page 623

ע

hóa. Hong Kong.

40065.

30

616

DRAFT.

E SECRETARY,

Ind

TI-SLAVERY & ABORIGINES

TACTION SOCIETY

MINUTE.

Mr.

Beckett.

Mr. Colline

Mr.

Mr. Grindle.

Sir H. Lambert,

Sir H. Read,

Sir G. Fiddes.

Bal-Amery

выбра

/12/8

Xur. Wood, 1975

Mr. Chaunchill.

D

Encl, in 38683

Engl. in 36172

m.action

ahay is for.

Sir,

Downing Street,

22 August, 1921.

I am directed by Mr. Secretary

Churchill to acknowledge the receipt of

your letter of the 10th of August on the subject of mui tsai in Hong Kong.

2+

Mr. Churchill is well aware that

the system of mui tsai has recently aroused considerable interest in certain circles

in this country. He considers however that

little weight can be attached to criti-

cisms. based mainly on the invidious and

inappropriate use of the word slavery and

on reports of cases of ill-treatment which am brought

e. to light by the efforts of the Po

Leung Kuk and the Hong Kong Government to

secure the protection of that small propor-

tion of mui taai which has been unfortunate

enough to fall into unsuitable hands,

Such criticisma pay no attention to the

reasons which have led to the adoption of

the system, and the wide difference between

the points of view of Chinese and English

respectively, or to the efforts made, to

In his opinion, as has

18

prevent abuses.

been previously stated, it only possible

to deal with the matter by social work

in which the Chinese themselves take part,

He is not prepared to take the step of

directing the passing of a law prohibiting

any