bring
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it is not desirable to prohibit transfers because very few
cases would be discoverable. This also is contrary to
information which our Society has received from residents in
Hong Kong, that such transfers often take place. Te are
informed that children are bought under contracts of two
kinda, the one, hoi sun kai, giving full right to the
purchaser to sell the mui tsai at any time, while the mi suh
kei contract prevents the purchaser from transferring the
girls without the paronite' consent. But few, wo are
informed, are sold under the latter form of contract, and
those who change hands under the first form Patch a higher
price, because apparently the purchaser has the prospective
right to sell for immoral purposes.
The Secretary for Chinese Affairs points out in the form of Presentation the use of certain Chinese words meaning "ginger and vinegar money" to indicate the sun for compensation
paid for the child to its parents. It is assortel, and wo
think with reason, that these words are used in Hong Kong,
instead of the words used in documents prepared in China
indicating a complete transfer of the rights of ownership, in order to disguise the fact of sale, and so evade legal
penalties against slave-dealing in Hong Kong.
We are not prepared to admit from the information in our possession, that the practice of owning "ui Tsai is confined to the well-to-do classes; on the contrary we are informed
that the practice extends to artisans, clerks, and even to
evidence in the Courts showS people of the coolie class; that there are cases where the very poor purchase these girls.
Our Committee notes that Kr. Churchill we consulting the Governor as to the possibility of setting up an impartial Committee of Enquiry into the system, but is apprehensive that such an enquiry would antagonise the enlightened members
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