ekl
150
MONDAY, JANUARY
24th, 1921.
GIRL "SLAVE"
Ill-treated and Underfed.
Another instance of the many evils of the mii-tsai system in Hongkong was affordec by a case heard before Mr. R. E. Lindsell, at the Police Court this morning, when a Chinese woman was charged in connection with an offence whose unexampled cruelty drew from the Hagistrate the observation that "it is the likes of you that bring discredit on the mui-tsai system in Hongkong. •
The qui-anai in question is nine years of age, and she had to be removed to the Government Civil Hospital as the result of a severe beating she underwent at the hands of the defendant. Life since her transfer into the hands of her present mistress on the payment of a few dollars, had not been a conspicuously happy one, for, in addition to the many beatings she received, of which the one under investigation was on instance, she was underfed, and the marks of this privation were only too evident when she appeared as a witness in the case before his Worship this morning.
The Police received information from another tenant of the house in which the defendant lived, as a consequence of which they called at this address and found the girl in a condition which required medical treatment, Government Civil Hospital, and in the meantime the woman had been brought up before
She was reared to the the Court and remanded to enable the servant girl to remover and give her evidence,
When again brought up before the Magistrate this morning, the defendant pleaded guilty, and his Torship called for the medical statement, Government Civil Hospital, said that the mui-tsai was examined by him and he found
Dr. T.K. To, of the that she was suffering from bruises on both aras and hands, a small lacerated wound on the right side of the head, bruises on the forehead, and some swelling on the left Bide. She was also suffering from the effects of under nourishment.
The defendant was called upon by his Worship to explain the reasons for the under-nourishment of the mi-taal. She formulated the excuse that the girl refused food on several occasions, and added e on what ironically that they, being poor peoplez could only afford two meals a day.
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In a severe tone, the Kagistrate said:- It is the like of you that bring dis- credit on the mui-taai system in liongkong. Four weeks' hard labour.
The option of fine, which under ordinary circumstances is permitted in an assault case, was not given.
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