149
ABOLISHED IN
MUI TRAI SYSTEM
CHINA RETAINED IN HONG KONG
This is a Chinese Custom whereby possession is obtained of young girls and boys. Its nearest British equivalent is "adoption", but the real object of the system is that of obtaining domestic slaves. In the majority of cases, actual purchase takes place.
The "Foster Parent" usually purchases the boy or girl, at a very early age, for a sum of five dollars. The girls become household drudges, and are, in the majority of cases, badly fed and overworked. Recently one of these children brought into Court, stated that she had to work from 7 a.m. until 2 a.m. the next day, namely 19 hours without a break, and the mistress admitted that she could only afford to give her two meals a day! Considerable numbers of these girls are, at a later date, disposed of for other purposes.
It can be stated that this system would be illegal in China because legislation introduced some years ago made illegal the sale or purchase of individuals, and secondly, any system of adoption or domestic servitude, under which no wages were paid to the individual concerned, was also declared to be illegal.
Thus, a Chinese system of slavery, illegal in China itself, is tolerated in the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong.
149
ABOLISHED IN
MUI TRAI SYSTEM
CHINA RETAI HED IN HONG KONG
This is a Chinese Custom whereby possession is obtained
of young girls and boya. Its nearest British equivalent is "adoption", but the real object of the system is that of obtain
ing domestic slaves. In the majority of caseș, actual pur- chase takes place
10.
the "Fomet Parent" usually purchases
-
that
the boy or girl, at a very early age, for a sum of five dollars. The girls become household drudges, and ere, in the majority
of cases, badly fed and overworked. Recently one of these child.
ren brought into Court, stated that she had to work from 7 a.n.
until 2 a.. the next day, namely 19 hours without a break,
-
and the mistress admitted that she could only afford to give her
two meals a day! Considerable numbers of these girls are, at a later date, disposed of for other purposes.
It can be stated that this system would be illegal in China because legislation introduced some years ago made illegal the sale or purchase of individuals, and secondly, any system of adoption or domestic servitude, under which no vagen were paid
to the individual concerned, was also declared to be illegal.
Thus, a Chinese systen of slavery, illegal in China itself, ia
tolerated in the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong.
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