1921-10-13 — Page 3

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THE

MANIFESTO OF THE ANTT (HASONE FOR THE ABOLITION OF TIM

MUT-TEAT SOCIETY.

་་་་་:

INTRODUCTORY.

"Test" "ky quedamaian! (9),

The attention of the public was drawn to the mus sagi question in 1917 by a cais

(a) Injurious to Public Morality, Girls bought as mui trai are mostly off tender aga To burden their partially developed bodies with heavy and unplea

HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, OCTOBER

STHER Y

ORORDE

Not only is mua traz-keeping not hands. It will also be necessary to form Charity, hat, on the contrary the muẻ trad - An Employment Bureau to facilitato this system encourages selfish and marcenary | absorption; to Tolday the sòrvices of e "Chu lin mui! Le a hired servant girl mendo part with their children unneces-

arily in order to enable themselves to are greatly in demand, and it is con be more self-indulgent. Instances of sell-fidently expected that the majority of the at the Criminal Sessions in which frant taky is both litting and piting a girl to preserve a roof over the liberated wat tot will carn their living "C: G. Alabaster, counsel for the defence able. ~ Under an owner that is incon heads of her parents, younger brothers, such Thus, she will be protected argued that his client could not be confiderath, the mui that fare is of the sisters, are rare, whereas selling after her emancipation until she can food victed of having enticed two little girls contest, her hours of work are unde: daughter to satisfy & father's craving for for barrel. This rough outline of pro ent of the custody of their lawful fined, her illness is unattended toy her pim and the excitement of the gambling cedare has the merit of impartiality to guardians" inasmuch as they were muiduties are exacting, her responsibilities table is so common that it has frequently recommend it, since the interests of the hai Lieut. Col. John Ward, M.P., took are heavy, and no-consideration "is given been depicted on the Chinese stage. It ovner are not ignored. It is also expecti "a great interest in this matter, and, to the possibility of her being overworked in often asserted that the poor sell their ed that sometimes the interests, af: the "though forbidden by Service Regulations and undoried. Following upon these issue on account of poverty; but if they owner may clash with theas of the mui from taking any open and active interest harsh conditions, the right of disposing cannot keep them, how is it that they trai; but any such differences con, gafoly la political questions, “he communicated her person is exercised by strangers, who manage to do so until the girls are old be left in the hands of the Government with the Labour Party in England on subordinate her welfare to their own enough to be sold as mui tacíl Even if for satisfactory adjustment. “It is our this subject, and they interviewed the purse. To be married to an old man or the plea that porerty in the dominant conviction that the following tentative Secretary of State for the Colonies, boorish countryman or disposed of as a factor in such an inhuman transaction proposals form a sound and practical Later, Mrs. E. Haselwood, wife of concubine is bor usual fate. Sold for were true, to what artent dan Hongkong basis for the solution of the mui tak Lieut. Commander Haslewood, R. N., came price, she in no way differs from any hope to relieve the distress of China in question:- to the Colony and actively interested commodity of commerce. Hence the mui thin war! Though the assistance must be (a) The Anti-Maitsal Society ".seski herself in this question. From the out sai system is injurious to public negligible in this direction, the Hong- to assist the public to realize their mis bét, Mr. H A" Cartwright," "Editor of morality.

kong-Government is in a position to take in continuing the evil practice of The Hongkong Daily Press, has been dis

(5) Subversive of Righteousness.

assist in a far more efficacious manner by keeping mui tai by means of literature cussing the mui tant system with the re In most families where mus sai are territory and thereby setting an example

abolishing the mùi tai system within it by holding public meetings and by giving wult that the question's "Why is the kept, the inmates are afficted with don of reform which will be followed through tion of the mui tai system in the British lectures with the object, of effecting abeli- practice of keeping mui tai permitted it and loose, morality. The owner In the British Colony of Hongkong!" is assumed 'the role of a lord and master,

out the vast Republic of China

Colony of Hongkong. being asked by a constantly increasing while the mui trai is relegated to the number of fairminded people, both here position of a parasite and slave. Bad in England. Upon this question, gulf between the two being wide, sym members of the House of Commons have pathy cannot hope to bridge it. Freqüent repeatedly interrogated the Secretary of scolding inevitably leads to cruel treat State for the Colonies and have requested ment; incessant peremptoriness breeds that this system of domestic slavery be chronic abuse. All this is subversive of abolished. The founders of this Society righteousness in the family. When bought are convinced that these people are solely by those who live by pandering to the tuated by the laudable desire to assist lust of others, she is remorselessly pros "thousands of unfortunats girls and to tituted or handled as a tree that sheds preserve the fair name of Great Britain: silver coins. Noticed by the voluptuous,

In consequence of the growing interent she is promptly rushed into a hare life and death is absolutely in the handloophole for the traffic to flourish. Un-

in the campaign in England on behalf of the mui taha mass meeting convened by the two Chinese members of

Fil

The

Hence the mui test system encourage licentiousness and poisons the moral atmosphere. What is to be said of this injury to publio righteousness? ---

(c) Injuriour to National Prestige.

2

cause of charity as a defence of the mui We hareby declare that to plead the

isas system is hypocritical and absurd.

(IV) TUTILITY OF RIFORM BY PERSUASIVE.

...MODS... k

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"

1

(8) The Anti-Muitsai Society" seeks to petition, the Hongkong Government;

(1) to legislate, cancelling all docu- ments of sale and refusing them validity, irrespective of whether the girl is bought The cause of Ell-treatment to the mus tea lies in the severity and stringency daughter." It is necessary to point out, mui émi, or 23 a "adopted of the document by which she is sold that, although the buying and selling of The inclusion of such clauses as "To be human beings in technically illegal in disposed of as the payer thinks fit" and Hongkong, the law is a dead letter and No enquiry of her whereabouts or in the official recognition of documents such the event of her death is permitted" clearly indicates that the question of her as "presentation cards, etc., leaves a

enforced, girl-slavery cannot be said to be extinct in this British Colony..

'less cancellation of much documents is

'In

of her owner. With this knowledge in her mind, the mui tsai dares not revolt Legislative Council on 30th July,

against the tyranny by which she is 1821, in the Tai Ping Theatre, Hongkong,

oppressed"; "anxious not to disturb" the

2) to legislate, requiring compulsory it is regretted that this meeting

neighbourly feeling, the bystander finds registration of all muï trair and "adopt- alled to reply to-five sot questions which | As early as 1884, legislation, was introit inconvenient to interferes and, so long ed daughters." The distinction between *Add not touch the roots of the subject, and duced into Egypt to abolish domesticles the owner does not got within the

́a muš tias, and 'an “'adopted' daughter " that the Chairman refused to pat to the slavery. In 1885 it was decided at the clutches of the Law, he or she can do is great and should be observed. reta a resolution, duly proposed nad Berlin Congress that the traffic in slaves what he or she wishes with the unfor- genuine cases of adoption, the girl should seconded, that the mastal system be should be rigidly suppressed by Inter- tanate girl. The roots of cruelty to the permitted to remain with the adopted abolished in the Colony. Fearing that national Law The Face Treaty of 1918 m. lie firmly embedded here; and parent under certain guarantees as to effect of this meeting may be to aid included not only the Covenant of the the only way to remove the evit lies in education and treatment. With the can- preservation of this iniquitous prac League of Nations, but the International the eradiction of the roots through Gov-bellation of the document of anle, the , we have formed the Anti-Maitsa Labour Convention, under which the ernment action in cancelling these docu- mut taas ceases to be such and it should Bociety with the object of relieving the High Contracting Parties also agree to ments of sale and refusing to recognise be incumbent upon the owner to inform mufferings of the must tea and supporting endeavour to secure and maintain fair their validity. The buying and selling that the former will no longer be known every member of his or her household kind efforts of Western friends and humane conditions of labour for of human beings in this British Colony

a mui taas-but za "yung.nui "d.en. Ber- Our Society will cause to function as soon men, women and children; both in their would thereby receive its death-blow, and as abolition of the mutai system own countries and in all countries to the mut taai would be liberated. Instead remain to work with her owner for a car- vant girl. The servant girl will thon nally effected, and, while functioning, which their commercial and industrial of proceeding in this direction, opponents tain number of years, to be fixed by a Will take no part in any other social or relations extent. It is necessary to point of reform talk of devising ways and Commission, so that the owner may be political question. Undaunted by the out that one of the principles affirmed by means to prevent cruelty to the muitas compensated by service for the outlay in magnitude of our tank and conscious of the signatories to this Treaty that overlooking the fact that they preserve buying the girl. At eighteen years of

labour should not be regarded merely as an article of commerce We regret that the poison in the system through neglect age, the servant giri regains her liberty. there are Chinese resident abroad who ing the source of the disease. It is com Should the period of service fixed by the infringe publie law by indulging in the traffic in human flesh. On the plea that knowledge that, in spite of such pro Commission expire before that age limit they are but following a long-established tection as is afforded by the Law, the is attained, she may elect to remain with practice, they slur over the shamefulness vigilance of Polics and the supervision her owner at a monthly wage, or seek the of such transactions and unknowingly of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, assistance of the Employment Bureau for place themselves beyond the pale of cruelty to mui tsai is still rampant, and, civilization. Such conduct does not enhance the prestige of China eren in where Constituted Authority has failed the servant girl will be under the aper a change. Until she regains her liberty, the eyes of friendly Powers. Further to remedy an evil, it is obviously far vision of inspectors, preferably of the more, so long so the nut as system is fetched to expect success from the pro- gentle sex, having a knowledge of collo- countenanced by law and remains un- abolished, the crime of kidnapping, is Paganda of private citizens and the encouraged, thereby militating against scrutiny of a charitable institution. (3) to provide a building for ten years

quial Cantones. good order and government.

Moreover, protection: is efficacions only as an industrial home in which the in when it comes from those to whom cruel mates will be taught work of a vocational treatment is meted; and to promote: Admission into this home is to be open nature, washing and cooking included. society of mui tras owners for the preto servant girls of tender years whose liable to ill-treatment to liberate them or difficult, to manage them and to those vention of cruelty without assisting those owners, may find it troublesome to keep selves may be aptly compared to the who are temporarily out of employment. formation of a league by cata

the in In the management of this refuge, the Luistance of a missionary body should campaign amongst all members of the be invoked.

A thorough subscription community, coupled with an annual sub sidy from the Hongkong Government, should remove the difficulty of finance

the righteousness of our cause, we hereby mus this manifesto in the hope that it will receive the careful consideration of all, irrespective of sex, race, nationality, religion or domicile.

(1) INHERENT EVILS OF THI MUI EBAI

SYSTEMA RAM

(a) There are those who rear muitas in name but bring up girls for prostitu- tion in fact and this heinous practice is known, in Chinese, as the chu"fa" which means rearing females like flowers,

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If only for these reasons, we strongly

for prostitution. This statement is advocate the abolition of the system. refuted and irrefutable. The enlightened Chinese Press has persistently and clearly Brought this disgraceful state of affairs to the notice of the public. There has ten so much light admitted into this dark practice that details are unneces

sary.

*

(III) MUI TRAI-KEEPING NOT CHARITY. Opponents of change invariably plead that this traffic in human beings is due to the desperate poverty of the masses and that it is mutually beneficial. The buyer obtains cheap service, while seller. obtains financial relief. Therefore,terest of the mouse. The only way to to buy a mui tsai is a charitable act from clean, sweep of the instruments of sale by prevent ill treatment lies in making & which the poor derive material benefit. which one human being is permitted to 946) The treatment motel out to a mui This argument does not lack plausibility: hold in his hand the destiny of another tai is similar to that alloted to a slave. but careful consideration reveals its who is powerless to resist ill-treatment A slave is bought with money; a mui hollowness In Charity, the dispenser How is it possible to stop the steam from swi, also, is bought with money. A slave the recipiant must be preserved. In buy must show sacrifice and the character of is robbed of rights and liberties; amali

ing another's daughter to suit one's own Tsp also, is robbed of rights and convenience, where is there sacrifice? In liberties. A slave can be exploited with accepting another's cash in exchange for out reserve;ja mui tsai, also, can be's own daughter, where is character by persuasion, in.futile when applied to this outpost of Western civilization and

fuel under it, or should one, afraid of boiling kettle, without wihdrawing the being drunk, continue to inbile pint after pint

It is our strong conviction that reform the mus taas system.

I

- ABOLITION,

dow

• CONCLUSION,

1911.

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out that the pernicious mattias system, In conclusion, it is imperative to point into which the plas of necessity does not really cuter, is doomed to elimination manifest? Were we approached by diploited without reserve. A ilave is not ppor, man, in the name of Charity, to

at the present stage of social develop paid for labour; a mui tui, also, is not we, rather not relieve his distress without

buy his wife, would, we do so 1. Would (V) TENTATIVE PROPOSALS TO LIEZCYmanity to raise its fellow citizens out of

ment. It is the duty of a civilized com paid for labour. A slave can be re-sold; exacting the pound of Ash? One who

a state of degradation and oppression. offers to sell mui tot, aloo, can be told my character, and philanthropists have not should be abolished, and it is often ask sympathy, happen to be helples little wife is devoid of It is often said that the mas tai system When those who have a claim to our the similarity between the two is most triking; indeed, the only material differe heart to buy her. The parent who ed, "How is abolition possible without gre of tender years living, amongst ence lies in the fact that, whereas the character, and anyone who buys her is done with the liberated mus taai, and how possible without outraging our Looling | sells his daughter is, likewise, devoid of a constructive scheme ↑ "' What is to be dangers and in what, to them, is often s strange country, no denial of succour sword slave it applicable to those whose helping to destroy one of the most scored are we to supervise those who are orm of humanity. It is against, & Briton

of human bonds an servitude in life-long and extends to their

mitted to remain with their owners form Angiber mperácial view in, that the the pivot to which almost all arguments sense of right that children living under posterity, the word mus as applies to mas system helps to decrease the in this burning question finally converge the British flag should be rented marely anales, whose servitude ceases on attain Practice of drowning female children in It is, however, ridiculous to assume that goods and chattels Finally, it is, there promanhood This is a clear instance the anterior of China by poverty-stricken the Anti-Muitin Bociety? merely aims for fervently hoped that the charitable of depriving human beings of their parents Lest the civilization of China at setting all these, unforunste girls public will support this Society in human rights

colour, and when applied a thorough disinfectant. be unjustifiably maligued, let it be known adrift without any further thought of effort to samist thousands of subjugated (c) It is an incontestable fact that that child murder as grave criminal their welfare. The fret step in emancips girls to obtain a glimpse of the light mus Logs is liable to all sorts of maitrest offence under China'sown laws. Assuming tion isso, cancel all documents of sale, day and in removing a blot from the ment dictated by the whims and caprices ant child-drowning in the past was rain whatever guise, to prevent resale administration of Hongkong one of the of her owner. The number of cases of pant, did people refrain from buying sad The girl's purchase price is to be con- bright jewels in the Brit Crown, gross cruelty reported in the local Press neding Now, that child-drowning sidered as money advanced to her parent

MIMYING Pr is not small, but cruelty is rampant, and in 190s, prevalent is it to be attributed to and, for this consideration, the mui teat "the amount of cruelty that does not so rearing or preparing these girls for the will have to remain to work for her owner

C. G. ANDERSON- the light of day is incalculable. That a larg trails!, In abild-drowning the victim for a certain number of years to be

CHAU WII, CHEUNG H.B., B.6. mutras after being ravished by her in invariably a day or two.old while girls fixed by a Commission before she regains. master or members of her owner's house sold as mus have generally attained her freedom,The power of appointing

HUNG TO FEI Bold in discarded with or without pro the age plave or six para aga at all commissious or individuals to further vision, or ro-sold, is also frequently heard, which they can be useful and help to enthe work of emancipation will, of course, Up to the present, it has not been the their daily bread, which is impossible at be exergised by t

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Government whose fehusiness of any one to collect, proofs of the carlierings.

truth is that child industrial home, as in Egypt, has also to able and appal the clean-minded.

drowning bears no relationship whatever. be sought. With a little assistance, the We hereby aver that the above are the to thamus tot system, and it is also unfettered mus tai ean be self-support- Chlef inherent evils of the mustiai patent that, selfishness, or greed underligning and will eventually be absorbed into. Army krsuncion, kia kupan fona, tend the yanka of domestic servanta add factory

Provisional Execu-LA WORD tire. Committee Le Pa of the Anti-mi. Ngan Kwan Yu tai Society. Two How Gir

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