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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 4TH FEBRUARY, 1880. 133

has had its certain natural evolution, it will as certainly undergo, in due time, a natural dissolution, which in fact has in more than one point already set in. But no legislative or executive measures taken in Hongkong will hasten this process, which follows its own course and its own laws, laid down by a wise Providence which happily overrules for the good all that is evil in this world.

To sum up this somewhat too elaborate argument, and to point its conclusions with special reference to the question of Chinese domestic servitude in Hongkong as practised by the general body of the Chinese inhabitants, I venture to say that the foregoing essay, if it proves anything at all, proves the truth of the following propositions :-

1. Chinese domestic servitude is so peculiar and differs so widely in its essential characteristics from negroe slavery that it cannot be logically brought under the provisions of any English enactment regarding that form of slavery. Police prosecution of Chinese domestic servitude under any law made with reference to negroe slavery would therefore constitute an act of very doubtful legality.

2. Chinese domestic servitude appears to be a low form of social development when judged by the advanced standard of European civilization, but when judged by the relative standard of Chinese civilization, founded on entirely different principles, it has its legitimation as the best possible form of social development under the circumstances. Absolute condemnation of Chinese domestic servitude would therefore be an act of moral injustice.

3. Chinese domestic servitude is not an excrescence on but a necessary part of the patriarchal order of things which characterizes the social life of the Chinese residents of Hongkong. To prohibit Chinese domestic servitude in toto, would therefore constitute an act of violence, as striking at the very roots of the social organism, the results of which would, in all probability, be harmful to the Chinese and embarrassing to the Government.

4. Chinese domestic servitude, hitherto upheld in Hongkong by the conservative tendencies of the patriarchal organism in China, is bound by the laws of nature to yield eventually to the progressive tendencies of modern society. Undue interference with this process would therefore be an act of in- judicious intolerance.

Hongkong, 25th October, 1879.

E. J. EITEL.

:

No. 29.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

The following Letter from the Captain Superintendent of Police, together with the Returns of Criminal Statistics accompanying it, is published for general information.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 4th February, 1880.

[No. 32.]

W. H. MARSH,

Colonial Secretary.

VICTORIA, HONGKONG,

23rd January, 1880.

SIR,-I have the honour, in accordance with the instructions contained in your Circular of 2nd December, 1879, to forward, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, details of the Police Establishment, the list of Pensioners, and the Criminal Statistics for 1879.

2. The Criminal Statistics show that 6129 cases were reported to the Police during the past year, being a decrease of 706 cases or 10:32 per cent from the returns for 1878. In the sub-division of these cases into Serious Crimes (so called) and Minor Offences, a decrease of 214 cases or 8.19 per cent is found in Serious Crimes, and a decrease of 492 cases or 11.64 per cent in Minor Offences.

I have the honour, to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

W. M. DEANE, Captain Superintendent of Police.

The Honourable W. H. MARSH,

Colonial Secretary,

&c.,

fc.,

fc.