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precise figure 8,000 to 9,000 in 1922. That figure must
repose upon some reliable official data, and we trust
that every effort may be made to secure the complete
registration of all Mui Tsai in Hong Kong. We think it
possible that the conflicting estimates may be due to
the difficulty of distinguishing between an adopted
daughter" and a "Mui Tsai." It would therefore seem to
be necessary to proceed with the registration of these
"adopted daughters" especially in view of the information
in our possession that these adopted daughters are also
the victims of sale and purchase.
In view of the fact, notwithstanding the assertions
to the contrary, that this sale and purchase constitutes
a property right in persons bought and sold, and thus
comes within the scope of Article I of the Anti-Slavery
Convention, we beg to urge that the total abolition of
such practices should be the objective of the Hong Kong
Government. But pending abolition of the Mui Tsai system,
and that of adoption by means of purchase, we beg leave
to put forward the following constructive suggestions.
(a) We have not yet seen any Report upon the
activities of the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of
Children, the inauguration of which, we understand, received
pronounced official support.
We beg to suggest that the Governor might be able to
include with his Report to the Secretary of State, copies
of any Reports from this Society which, as Patron, he may
receive upon the beneficent work done by this institution.
(8) The time seems to have arrived for the fullest
possible application of Part 3 of the amended Ordinance
of 1923.
1. Remuneration. We have not yet observed that any
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.