CO129-473 - Individuals - 1921 — Page 145

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bui Trai (servant girla) in Hong Kong. =

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For some time past there has been a

campaign of miɛrepresentation in tuis country as

to the custom of auopting girl domestics in (long-

keng, payment being made to the parents on adeption. It is over and over again stated that tola custom

is tolerated in Hong Kong whereas it nag bean

declared illegal (and by inference abolished) in

China generally. The fact is that the custom pre-

Sonerally

valls, in China, with ne much protection for the girls as in revided in Heng kong. It is true that

since the revolution in China a law was kimmed to

abolish tim custom as previously prevailing from time immemorial, and substituting alotuer myatem which provided for practically the muse ting, but no attempt has been or is being made to enforce the technical,illégality of the old curtom or to ensure tust the modifications in the above law are obnerve

The curtos in Hong Kong is not rego 171å med by the law of the Colony, which is the law vổ chăm and gives the adeɲting employer no right at all as against the girl. The impossibility however oI terminating the cuntcm is as great in Hong Kong as in Chine generally, it springs from aconomic condi- timne whià cœnot be altered by Government .ctim. The great majority of illinose families)arc ne poer that all the children cannot be reared by their parenta. It is necessary therefore for them to art with samo of their girls in order that these Kay benrovided with musten nce, and the mum vf cương which toey receive on placing them out i# of

cnfentia)

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