1921-08-01 — Page 3

Page

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY,

THE MUI TSAI" QUESTION.

THE

CHINESE MASS MEETING.

FOUR HOURS OF ORATORY:

mon being acretly prohibited by law. Ender the Manchu code, the buying of women and girls for prostitution" was

Wherefore, punishable with severity.

“CUSTOM" DEFENDED AND WHITEWASHING RESOLUTIONS plaers so as to avoid detection by their

ADOPTED.

AUGEST

1st, vl.

1 is not the mus teni system sometimos used as a cloak for purchasing girls for the purpose of, their becoming prostitutes.

3. Cannot the purchaser of mus trai resell her to somebody sisal If he wants to resell her, has the parent or any other person who originally sold her the right to be consulted with reference to such to-sale!

3. What are the rights of the parent or other person who originally sold the padi tami na to redning such mai tai. Ac., buying her back

(4)(rom the purson to whom he

originally sold her,

น

(b) from the person to whom sha.

was re-sold! The above Questions, if fully answered,

those whose business it was to buy young. girls and bring them up for prostitution always said that they bought them to ba daughters or to be daughters-in-law, Such girls were generally bought from distant

parents, or were bought in their age of innocence, so that, when brouglit. up, they would not know their own parents. Thus The meeting of the Chinese condianity these arvusations, and the tent English there is obvious difference between the to capsider criticisms of the mui tras newspapers have also obtained and pub-two classes of girl-purchase. That the English accusers six the one up with the system was held at West Point, on Saturlished my views on the subject. Now other is proof of their ignorance of the day afternoon, in the commodious Tai- ports are again being circulated in Loreal state of affairs The Po Leung Kuk ping Theatre, which wats upwards of don among different classes of people in

was founded to afford relip to those who 2,000 people. In such large building the effect that we, Chinese, in Hongkong were kidnapped, and to abate the real- the audience looked rather small, but buy and bring servant-girls us for practice of selling boys and girls. There fore all the women and girls who came rough count indicated that there were prostitution, and for the immoral par

from the mainland of China to enter the about 500" people "present. All chases of poms of their masters who, when not

local brothels; or for trashipment to other the community from the richest to the pleased with them, ersell them; and that poorest had representatives in the audi frequently the girls are badly treated ence: merchants in their silken long by their owners who thrash then or in- legal age of whase answers to the ques-gathered from various sources, and also! enats, artisans in cotton suits and jure them with various cruel means The tions put them were not satisfactory were | tell you what I have personally seen and

and even a few mui bai.

4.30 n'clock.

♫

ม!

will, I think eauble each one of us to judge for himself

(1). The real status of à mai tai, and (ii) Whether the mus tani system ought

to be continued

(a) at all, or

(5) in its present form in n

British Colony.

places as prostitutes were subjected to By way of elucidating the above ques examinations at the Secretariat for Chi- tions. I will ärst give you the views which nesa Affairs. Those who were not of the have both before and quite repeaty

originators of these reports requested the passed on to the committee of the Po heard of, before asking you to express singlets, and goodies naked except for one Government of England to order the tang Kuk for further investigations your own views and tell me what you garment about their loins. Various Government of Hongkong to enact a law builds and useintions were represented. to prohibit the buying and keeping of tapped or seduced, those who brought the views, which I am going to give, cover If they were found to have, been kid have yourselves seen and heard of. As and the assembly included many women servant-girls, or to lapo restrictions on them to Hongkong were presented and almost every point raised in the ques those fumiges who possess servant-girls by punished. If they were derived into tious, I don't think that I need deal with The proceedings were interminably compelling them to report and register becoming prostitutes Or compulsorily then set by sot, but, I will more or less. protracted; the meeting was timed to their possessions, and by appointing made to prostitute themselves, they were begin at 2.30 and it was not over till officers to inspect the girls periodically detained and looked after until suitable keep to the order in which they have been

But most of the people will presently proceed to narrate

inen could be found to marry theat. The some of the remarks I have already made, put. In doing so, I may have to repeat remained to the very end; they were quiete detail what I have personally seen cod attentive and, until the general dis- and beard ut. in connection with the from the mainland. There might la: a

halk of the prostitutes in "Hongkong hail-in order to make matters clear. usion bugun, made few demonstrations sabret, sn that, after hearing me you small number of them from amongst the

1. The Rr own distinct classes of either by way of apprayal or dissent. conure my experience with what local residents who swelled their auumber: who buy young girls and keep free was best af all an address, as differentiate between your giews and selves as to be anfit for marriage or had for prostication. The twu should not be you have personally seen and "heard, bat snch had either so misconducted the girlk for domestic servies, and the other them: one class buy and keep servant- The hour and 20 minutes from the Hon. mine, and accordingly form your own themselves preferred to become prostitutes mixed Mr. Lau Chu-paks the Chairman. This conclusion as to whether we have been

to being married. Also there might be young girls for domestic service are of the Those who huy and keep Kave a historical surser of the question justly or wrongly accused. At any rate. and comments on the criticisms of the we shall all consider "carefully every brought to this Colony by the brothel their good name stained by such a designa some who, when quite young, were respectable class, who would not have stem which have appear in these allegation, and if it was groundless, we keepers, and when they grew old enough tion as tortoise (a nickname for columus and elsewhere.

should formally and publicly testify to its became prostitutes, but of these scarcely brothel koopers the daughters of many of baing so, and suborit n full report to the any "were bought in Hongkong. The Hongkong Government embodying all the Chinese residents in this Colony know

whom are prostitutes), and bus ibjected. facts of the servant girl system. so that that it is against the wishes of the local to extortions by the official underlings such facts may be communicated to the authorities to buy and sell women and

and local tyrants, without whow cooni vance and protection, their trade cannot girls and that there is no reeds for be carried on quietly, tor the buying of There might have been a small number swindles There have been cases in which young girls to be brought up for prostita- arrangements to an official in the back of cases in which the owners wantonly the mothers conspired with the 50tion is punishable by law. ground to whom those who desired to ill-treated their wrvant-girls. In these betweens to sell their daughters and after sold for domestic service cannot be made Young girls speak reported and he lined them up cases, we should take measures to prevent a time reported to the Authorities as to prostitute themselves without their near the platform and so maintained a their reoccurrence. Even in the case of having lost their daughters. Then they constant dow of aratory. As soon as one animals and birds, the Europeans have went to the families who bought them. Their purchasers guilty of the offence are own censent and that of their parents formed a society to prevent their ill-treat- and péskar finished another was ready.

regained the custody of their liable to pay heavy damages in addition There was no attempt to control the ment. I am sure that for the good treat- daughters without paying back a cent to the punishment provided by law. and drators in any way, to keep them strictly ment of servant-giris brought up by them- while those families dared not bring their to return the girls to their parents: to the question before the meeting, or to help in forming a society to carry out the weldom done in Hongkong unless there can and keep girls for prostitution generally

selves, the Chinese will not hesitate to cases into Court.

Buying is therefore without compensation, Those who buy impose a time-limit on their eloquence.

object.

be, prodneed bona fide evidence of good make special arrangements with the Some spoke for two minutes (but not

verbation what "1" told the

1 do not propose to repeat parents and pay higher prices for them. girly 20 any) and some for twenty

After the Hon. Mr. Ho Funk had con- tributed a short speech, the meeting was thrown open to general discussion. The method of conducting this part of the proceedings did not quite follow Euro-Government of England.

The Chairroan left the

pern lines.

in the course of the afterou

oratur.

principal inducement.

minutes.

4

|Are T

'porters

Is it a fact that servant-girls are

brought up for prostitution?

4.

2. Are servant girls slave? 3. Ars servant-girls-kept for the sexual purpose of their masters who, when tired of them, sell them?

4 Has the Chinese Government passed any law to abolish the practie of keeping servant-girls!

nť

are not recognized as such, or it is rather because they find it pays them better to remain with their old owners as servants that they have not left. Girls have never been counted as slaves.

rally bought very young. People do not They are gen- like to ty big girls because they are dificult to control and after a few years service, they will have to be married off. When the girls are too young to look after themselves, the masters' amnahs and, in. some cases, them clean until they become old enough

mastera' wives "andi daughters have to dress them and keep to work. Their parents are allowed to

the

not infrequently obtain gifts of money and old clothing. On'y own clansaer's daughters are often sakea Lover to be servant-girls Girls cannot be married, as wives or concubines to men of the same clan. The tiministration of domestic service is, in every case, in the hands of the mistress.

Should a ZI take a fancy to his servant-girl, he must first obtain his wife's consent and then that of the girl herself and her pagents,

I am now, coming to what I have seen,

faith Mr. Lau Chu-pak made two or three and heard of in reference to the subject of the English papers, for it would take ind in some cases they pretend to buy for more speeches, of about 20 minutes each; tall the meeting what your own experi. up too much of your time, nor do I wishuption; hence there are different forms

After you have heard me. I wish you to ence is

The systems of slaves, servant-

to use the same arguments I used to their documents, namely, Presentation."

and Adoption." Perpetuity It was remarkable how many people girls and prostitutes according to the for people have already said that this the audience contained who were

pre historien records were introduced more meeting was called to defend the China, and if there are still a fw, they 9. and 3. There are, now, un slaves in pared to speak, without notes and with than 2,500 years ago. Kun Chung of t

I need scarcely say that it was no trace of nervousness and in some Tsai, one of the warring States in the not, for, as you are aware the system is angry with all the devices of the practised reign of the House of Chow. instituted or less a part of hot of But according to the running brothels to induce what were then called Domics in China. Without improving translation made by mr interpreter as the the good men to remain in his State with the economic conditions of that country cars were delivered, the speakers a view to enriching it and increasing its any attempt it interferes will rather indulged for the most part in generali. population. Public prostitution started add to than reduce the miseries of the ties and platitudes. One or two remarks from that time The selling and buying poor. Also the notice convening the meet- were made which indicated the exist of slaves and servant-girls were initiated ing clearly shows that we are more in a ence of a critical faculty; there was the by the Dynasties of Chan and Hon. when see to Answer tertain accusations ewaker who remarked that no one was offenders of the law were also made slaves against our wood name, na well, sa to likely to declare, by a vote, that servant and servants as a mode of punishment. investigate dispassionately what is un-

The slaves were all mea and, their sons doubtedly an important question: girls were kept for the sexual purpose and grandes remained to be slaves from Having dealt generally with the systems of their masters and his prophecy proved correct. Another speaker indulged neration to generation, unless and until of slaves and servant-girls, I now come to in sarcasm at the expense of someone who they could accumulate sufficient wealth or den) with the questions before you and come and we them periodically, and when declared that girls were bought to their friends and relatives could find the those, suggested by my Honourable col they come, they are, as a rule, provided save them from starvation; he suggested necessary mesas to pay for their emancipa league Mr. Pollock and by the Editor of 'with board and lodging and in many cases | that it would be more candid to admit tion, and even then only with the consent the Daily Pre since the publication of paid their travelling expenses by the girls". that the desire for cheap labour was the of their masters. Servants were generally the notice convening this meeting. Theinasters In the case of rich families, thei

young women and girls. Their status was questions by Mr. Ho Fook and myself girls parents different. when grown up, they were mar In the end, the questions drawn up ried. After marriage, should they still by the promoters of the raveting were like to mainaio the relationship with their voted upon and the allegations indicated former owners, they would be allowed so by them were denied either unanimously to do as members of their former owners or with only a few dissentients. The families, but without doing any more Before they grew old questions sent to the newspapers by the domestic work. Hon Mr. H. E. Pollock (who was gen-nough to be married, their parents, if erally referred to at the meeting as Mr. they could refund the moary paid for Po Lok), and the questions which the them. had the right to redeem them. Editor of the Daily Press suggested When a servant-girl was to be married, her might be answered, were not voted upon. parent had to be informed of the address It was suggested several times in the to which she was to be married, thus course of the proceedings that "a society abling them to take up the cew relation- similar to that established by the Euro-ship with the family of her husband. Uption of servant-girls. The questions sug- he will have to answer to his wife, when pean community for the prevention of to the present day. China has never passed gested by the Editor of the Daily Frex

a law

to prohibit prostitution, and the | are:----- cruelty to animals, should be established

servant-girl system. The emancipation of by the Chinese community for the pre-inves was not effected until towards the vention of cruelty to ma and end of the Manchu Dynasty. However, resolution to this effect, carried in the among the prohibitive laws passed at the last few minutes, was the chief practical times of Hon and Tour, there were para- outcome of the meeting.

graphs showing sympathy with the slaves The Hon. Mr. Lau Chu Pak presided and the servant-girls, for their owners and those supporting him on the platform were forbidden to kill and burn them. included:-The Hot. Mr. Ho Fook, In the old days in China, in addition Messrs. Chau Sui Ki, Chou Shou Sen, to the enactment of statutes, lass couid. 6. W. Tso, Ho Kom Toug, Yau Sui Sbe made by Imperial edicts," or by pro Kwok Sui Lau, Toi Hing. Ho Lu, Chandnations issued by the local authorities, Kong Yue, Fok To Kai, T. Ka Poinlike those constitutional countries whose Fung Ping Shan. Ip Lau Chuen, Le laws must first pass through both the Cheung Shin. Wong Kwong Tin, Li Yik Lower and Uppy Houses of Parliament Mai, Li Po Kwai, To Sze Tun. Yau Sui before they can be recognized. Chi, J. M. Wong. Wong Tak Kwong, Lo the end of the Munchu Dynasty there was Tat, Tam Pak Shin, Li Wing Kwong, an edict abolishing slaves, but none to Chau Chun Nin. Li Yan Tsun. Yeung probibit the keeping of servant-girls. De Ma Lak, Dr. Ng TinP, Sometimes when the kidnapping of women Shiu Chuen, apd others.

The only Europeans in the and girls become fingrantly common, the assembly were Mr. A. H. Crack and Mr. | local authorities did jasne proclamations W." Jackson.

to forbid the sale of boys and girls and The Hon. Mr. LA CRU PAX said: taking them out of their jurisdictions Ladles and Gentlemen-The Bubject But it was only a temporary measure, which you have been invited to come here applied to a particular district. As far to discuss, is of Rome importance in that as the practice of the people was concern. it affects not only the custom of us, Chi-ed, it went on na usual and anchecked. nese, but also our respectability as a race. This proves the non-existence of any law I urge you to demonstrate fully and with forbidding the sale and purchase of girls perfect fairness what you have personally for servants. When a girl is bought to be Ben and heard of in connection with the sorvant, the deed of transfer is some- subject to that matters can be publicly times drawn-up--a-perpetuntunde, und investigated.

sometimes as a temporary presentation.

וד

Towards

Within the past few months, questions The word "presentation replaces the have been asked in the House of Com-word sale," and the term "Ginger and mans in England as to why in a British Vinegar money" is used instead o "Uniony "like" "Hongkong the buying and price, in order to show, that the trans

selling of slaves had not yet been for action is not an act of sala Among the bidden, and why avant-girls were still Cantonese the form of presentation is allowed to be cruelly treated by their generally used. Further the buying of a owners. The Hongkong Government has girl to be a servant differs from that of already replied in detail contradicting one for prostitution, the latter transac

5. Can the owners of the servant-girl! | before, be ean make her a concubing If

ill-trent them is they please?

he carries on wertly with the girl.

Any other matters relating to the ques-Although the latter is a consenting party.

'',

1. What do you mean by (a) domestic

Bevice (b) slavery? 2. Are the muj fai purchawal by their owners in the vast majority of cases for philanthropic or for commercial rensons 7.

3. If the object of purchasing mas tai is in order to obtain cheap labour, what protection against abuse do these children enjoy?

4. Are people who profit by this system trustworthy judges of the desirability or otherwise continuing the **xystem?

5. Does not the continuance of the pre- sent system constitute racial dis- crimination of which the conveners of the meeting are declared oppon-

enta?·

and if she finds him out. It is the Ame in the case of his concubiaq's servant girl. There is yet a greater source of danger to a man who has seduced his servant-giri, If the girl is eventually married out of his family, and her husband finds that sho is not chaste and if she makes a confes sion, then her old master will not only be regarded with scorn by his relatives and friends and cursed by his wife or concn. bine, as the case may be, but will also be subjected to blackmailing by the girl's husband and parents. There have been cases in which men in high social posi tions quietly made their servant-girls their concubines without the knowledge! and consent of their wives, but in such cases the girls' parents were bribed and separate establishments provided for, the girls and their children were, in after days, recognized as legal heirs Other which, after d. In reference to the question of ill-cases have occurred, in

treatment, is it expected that those having made the girls concubines, the who offend in this respect will give been obtained made things so hot for the wives whose consent had not previously evidence at the meeting? The Honourable Mr. Pollock's questions men, that they had to pay the girls large emma of money and send them secretly back to their parents, giving them. fren hand as to whether they should hide their. time or marry other man as they might please. In the case of the girls kept by concubines, similar formalities have to be gone through. Cases have also been heard of, in which the girls who were formally made concubines Became favouritea, who the wives, and the senior concubines were relegated to second places. This is one of the instances of what the Chinese commonly call slighting the wife to please the concubine, and such offence is punishable by law. No cases have ever 2. Are not mui praia frequently pur- come to light, in which the masters had a chaeed for economical reasons, ie, free hand to do what they liked with their merely as a means of obtaining cheap | servant-girln domestic service?

1. Has the person who purchases a mi faat absolute dominion over her For example, has he the right to order her

(a) To be his concubine,, (b) To be his mistress, (t) To do any work about the

"house of sdy description what

CYCT,

(d) In short, to do anything what

ever which he directs which will not bring either him or her within the grasp of the criminal law?

(Continued on page 4.)

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