CO129-473 - Individuals - 1921 — Page 191

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189

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in the case was the girl's own mother.

(3) See Secretary for Chinese Affairs' minute.

was handed back to her mother.

The girl

(4) The lady referred to is presumably ifies Pitts (not Pitt), Miss Pitts is a lady of the highest character and s most zealou missionary. It is impossible however to "consider carefully". as Lieutenant Commander Haslewood sugests, statements of a vape and general character.

(5) This is a case of what in Zurope would be called the "white slave traffic". It has no bearing, whatever on the

*mui tami" question.

(6) This case also hae no bearing on the "mui tsai" question the children concerned being the sons of the defendants,

The question raised by such caner as this is a far more

There is important one than the so-called "slavery" question.

no doubt that little children are constantly employed in work which is beyond their strength but the matter is a very difficult one to deal with. The poverty of the lower classes in China is such that the loss of the few cents eamed by child labour would be a serious hardship to the fumily and it is probable that in many cases the children would not ve reared at all if it were impossible for them to be employed at an early age, The possibility of regulating their employment has engaged my attention since 1 srrived in Honkong and I am now appointing • Commission to advise as to the feasibility of

legislation.

(7) The question of work in factorias will be considered by the Commission to which 1 have referred. The matter is one of considerable difficulty. In many camen children are employ -ad on light tasks in workshops because it is impossible for the parents to leave them alone, while they are at work, and they cannot afford to pay anybody to look after them.

I hope

that