CO129-539-4 Mui Tsai system 28-6-1932 - 28-11-1932 — Page 97

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Code it is laid down that The relation between

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an adopted son or adopted daughter and his or her

adoptive parents is the same as that between a

natural son or daughter and his or her own parents.

Again Article 1142 provides that "the order

of succession for an adopted son or daughter is the

same as for a natural son or daughter."

Further, an adopted daughter takes the

surname of her adopter (See Article 1078 of the

Civil Code.)

When she marries, she is married under the

I aegis of the person who adopted her, just like a

natural daughter. Thus in status and treatment

she is genuinely the same as a natural daughter.

Some people have asked "Does not the custom,

which exists in most cases of adoption of other

people's daughter, of giving ginger and vinegar money

to the parents of the child, approximate to the

buying and selling of a human being?

We would answer, No. In most cases the sum

given is trifling, merely a gesture, something

entirely different from the price paid for a human

being. Moreover, according to Chinese custom,

betrothal pre sent s are sometimes given in cash, and

will it be said that marriage is also a buying and

selling of a human being? The fact is that by

Chine se custom many of the major events in a person's life are accompanied by some financial or other

material confirmation, to mark the solemnity of the

occasion.

The purchase of mitsai has been strictly

prohibited in Hong Kong, and the employer of any

unregistered