683461-1880-Domestic-Servitude-in-Hongkong- — Page 4

102 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 4TH FEBRUARY, 1880.

STATEMENT OF CHUN-SHE.

Chun-sue, wife of Tsang San-fat, states :— he owed some money to LEUNG A-TSIT, who had asked us to give him our little girl Lam-ki instead, -Some time last September, my husband told me that I talked the matter over with my husband und being pressed for the debt, we determined to part with the girl provided $2 extra was paid.

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Some few days afterwards the man LEUNG A-TSIT came to our house for the child; he paid the $2 to my husband and we then, of our own free will, gave up the little girl, and he took her away. was very sorry about it and cried. The arrangement was that he was to keep her at his own house and by and bye find her a husband. There was nothing said about selling or not selling her, no paper was made out. I several times visited her at LEUNG A-TSIT's house and found that she was in no way ill-treated. I fancied however that LEUNG A-cur did not much like my coming to see the girl.

so often to his house

One day in May this year A-SIN (a man employed by LEUNG A-Tstr) happening to pass my house, I called him in to have a cup of tea and he then told me that his master was going to send the girl away somewhere. A-SIN did not say anything about LEUNG A-TSIT selling the child, nor did he mention what place she was likely to go to. asked him to make enquiries, and to prevent her being sent away. My husband afterwards informed me I told my husband what A-sts had said to me and I that he had petitioned the Government on the subject.

I last saw the girl about 2 months ago and I believe she is still at Leung A-rsIt's house.

I should like my daughter to come back, for then I could betroth her when she is old enough, and I should then probably have money enough to pay LEUNG A-TSIT.

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STATEMENT Or Tsang Sax-FAT,

TSANG SAN-FAT, a Stone Cutter, living at Tai-kok-tsui, British Kowloon, states as follows:-1 have a little girl, 6 years of age, named LAM-KI. LEUNG A-rsir of the Man-wo Barber's shop near Srratt's Dock, the sum of $5 which with interest, Some 3 years ago I borrowed of a man named (10 cents per month for every dollar), now amounts to $23. Last year, September, 1877, Leung A- TSIT came to me and demanded payment. difficult to provide for my family, and therefore I could not pay.

I told him, I had no money, moreover that I found it very give me your daughter instead, and when she is grown up, I will find a husband for her. No terms He then said, very well, you can were then come to, but we had some more conversation about it 10 days afterwards when it was agreed that LEUNG A-TSIT should have the girl for $25, viz.: the $23 already owing and $2, which was to be paid to my wife, CHAN-SHE as tea-money, it was further arranged that Leuse A-rsie was not to sell the girl but get her à husband when she was old enough to marry, Leung A-tsit brought me the $2 when I and my wife handed him over our daughter and he took

On the 5th October, 1877. į her

away. No

paper was drawn up or signed at any time. My wife occasionally visited the child at LEUNG A-TSIT's house and found her comfortable and well-looked after.

One day last May, 1878, a man named A-SIN, employed as a barber in Lyung A-Tsir's shop passed by my house during my absence and told my wife that LEUNG A-rstr was going to take the girl away, this was told to me on my return from work, and I then went to LEUNG A-TSIT and made i enquiries. LEUNG A-TSIT informed me that he thought it would be best to send the girl away-he did not say wherein consequence of the disturbed state of Hongkong, owing to the war between England and Russia. I told the shopkeeper about it, but after making some enquiries they did not further in- terfere.

I then petitioned the Registrar General who told me to lay my case before the Colonial Secretary, which I did. I have no evidence as to any intention on the part of Leung A-estr to sell the child except what was said by A-SIN. The girl has not been sent away yet. child coming back as I am very poor, but my wife is very anxious that she should return for she does I do not much care about the not like the thought of her being sent away. her and to get her betrothed by and bye when I shall probably be able to pay back what I owe to If she comes back to us, I will do all 1 can to support LEUNG A-TSIT.

be

My wife is very busy attending to my old mother and working for the daily rice, so that it would

difficult for her to come over and give evidence.

very

Hongkong, 1st July, 1878.

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