2.
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our law, been brought. In other cases the girls have been placed in the Po Leung Kuk pending enquiries about their relatives, and from the Po Leung Kuk some of these girls have been taken in by the Salvation Army or by the Victoria Home and Orphanage. With regard to adopted daughters I am of the opinion for reasons which I have already given that no action is called for on this particular ground. It would appear to be illogical to prohibit the employment of mui tsai while at the same time providing for the registration of adopted daughters because in the opinion of certain individuals they may be mui tsai in disguise.
3. The practice of adoption by purchase presents a very difficult problem and is in many ways open to serious abuses particularly with regard to the adoption of girl children. Ordinance 13 of 1929 (Offences against the Person Amendment Ordinance) represents an attempt to deal with such abuses as also does section 32 of the women
and Girls Protection Ordinance (Ordinance 4 of 1897 as
amended by Ordinance 21 of 1929.) The latter ordinance
in particular confers very wide powers on the Secretary for Chinese Affairs and it is questionable whether that officer would not be hampered in his work if recognition were given to a relationship which has at present no
validity under English or Chinese law.
I am prepared should Your Lordship desire it to consider this question further. I am however given to understand that the question of adoption by purchase is likely to be dealt with in the report of the Travelling Commission of the League of Nations which is at present engaged in investigating the traffic in women and children
in
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