The Chinese Church, Labour and elites and the Mui Tsai question in the 1920's 99
abuses, why, he asked, had the question never been raised by officials of the Government Cadet system who had studied Chinese language, manners and customs in Canton. "Surely these men's experience and knowledge of the system is not inferior to those of Mrs. Haselwood."
Mr. Ho suggested the Chinese organize a society among themselves to deal with any problems there might be in the system, "why cannot we Chinese take up the matter ourselves by forming a society with a strong committee of management for purpose of enlightening and educating the masses in their duty towards the servant girls, and securing proper power to prosecute the cases of cruel treatment of these girls?”
Some passion was injected into the meeting when after Mr. Pun Yat-ki vividly described three cases in which cruel punishment was inflicted on servant girls, Mr. Ho Kom-tong, the brother of Ho Fook and Ho Tung, excitedly shouted that Mr. Pun and his informant should be charged with accessory to the crime for not reporting the offending master to the authorities.
His remarks brought both loud applause and vehement cries of protest. Mr. Chung Wen-sang arose to appeal to the meeting "to stop these unpleasant disputes".
Dr. Yeung Shiu-chuen was the main speaker for those who advocated abolition of the mui tsai system. He contended that persons who commiserated with the girls who came into their households were "rare mortals". Girls were always badly treated, and the Po Leung Kuk and Secretary for Chinese Affairs had little influence in alleviating their condition. To claim that there were no complaints was a failure to understand the pressures under which the girls lived, for "many had been wronged by their masters but had not the courage to lodge complaints with the authorities, under the impression that if this were discovered, their lives would be made even more unpleasant."
Rather than attempt to counteract the accusation the English had brought against the system and regard them as a slur on the Chinese people, the problem should be honestly faced. It should be admitted that it would cause the degeneration of the Chinese as a race, for "how could servant girls be expected to train their children properly since they had been denied education and proper treatment."
Dr. Yeung pleaded "in the interest of humanity, the prestige of China and posterity, and also to keep pace with the advancement of civilization" that the meeting take steps to secure the emancipation of servant girls and to put them on an equal footing with others.
THE CHINESE CHURCH, LABOUR And elites and tHE MUI TSAI QUESTION IN THE 1920's 99
abuses, why, he asked, had the question never been raised by officials of the Government Cadet system who had studied Chinese language, manners and customs in Canton. "Surely these men's experience and knowledge of the system is not inferior to those of Mrs. Haselwood."
Mr. Ho suggested the Chinese organize a society among themselves to deal with any problems there might be in the system, "why cannot we Chinese take up the matter ourselves by forming a society with a strong committee of management for purpose of enlightening and educating the masses in their duty towards the servant girls, and securing proper power to prosecute the cases of cruel treatment of these girls?”
Some passion was injected into the meeting when after Mr. Pun Yat-ki vividly described three cases in which cruel punishment was in- flicted on servant girls, Mr. Ho Kom-tong, the brother of Ho Fook and Ho Tung, excitedly shouted that Mr. Pun and his informant should be charged with accessory to the crime for not reporting the offending master to the authorities.
His remarks brought both loud applause and vehement cries of protest. Mr. Chung Wen-sang arose to appeal to the meeting "to stop these unpleasant disputes".
Dr. Yeung Shiu-chuen was the main speaker for those who advocated abolition of the mui tsai system. He contended that persons who commisserated with the girls who came into their households were "rare mortals". Girls were always badly treated, and the Po Leung Kuk and Secretary for Chinese Affairs had little influence in alleviating their condition. To claim that there were no complaints was a failure to understand the pressures under which the girls lived, for "many had been wronged by their masters but had not the courage to lodge complaints with the authorities, under the impression that if this were discovered, their lives would be made even more unplesant."
Rather than attempt to counteract the accusation the English had brought against the system and regard them as a slur on the Chinese people, the problem should be honestly faced. It should be admitted that it would cause the degeneration of the Chinese as a race, for "how could servant girls be expected to train their children properly since they had been denied education and proper treatment."
Dr. Yeung pleaded "in the interest of humanity, the prestige of China and posterity, and also to keep pace with the advancement of civilization" that the meeting take steps to secure the emancipation of servant girls and to put them on an equal footing with others.
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