Sessional_Paper_1886-1887 — Page 192

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Adoption of female children as daughters.

The system is conducted in the same manner as the adoption of males; but comparatively few female children are adopted. They have equal rights with natural born daughters. They are provided with a dowry when married, but, like natural-born daughters, they have no other claim on the inheritance. The daughter takes nothing by an intestacy. Every woman is supposed to get married; on doing so she "leaves the family" and is absolutely in manu of the husband, even to a power of sale.

It is to be feared, however, that a very considerable number of female children are adopted from amongst strangers, (and therefore with a money payment,) with the intent that they should ultimately become prostitutes. These children are called "pocket-daughters." Their so-called mothers are called "pocket-mothers." They are taught Chinese music, and are regularly trained for the profession of courtezans. At an early age they are the victims of debauchees, who "deflower them in sly brothels," paying the "pocket-mother" a large price, and the girl is thus launched on a brothel career. These young girls are said to be brought from Canton or Macao at the age of 13 or 14 years, "and are deflowered according to "bargain and as a regular matter of business for large sums of money, which go to "their owners, frequently it would appear their own parents. The regular earnings "of the girls go to the same quarter, and the unfortunate creatures obviously form subjects of speculation to regular traders in this kind of business who reside "beyond our jurisdiction." (See Hongkong Contagious Diseases' Commission, 1879, page 45).

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II.

Domestic Service amongst Chinese.

The most careful inquiry shews that no male children are bought and sold here as slaves or servants, and confirms the statements in the Blue-book that "Boys are sold to be sons not slaves" and "that no such thing as a slave boy exists in Hongkong." It might too with truth have been added "nor in Canton." By Chinese custom and usage, for the purpose of domestic service Chinese female children are often pledged with a power of redemption, but more frequently purchased out and out from poor parents. The price varies considerably. I have known of a young child being bought at Macao for a dollar. A "deed of sale," or a "deed of gift" as it is more frequently called, is given to the purchaser. This "deed of gift of course is a mere euphemism. It is a bill of sale, and purports to sell and convey a title with a warranty. Money is given as the consideration for the control of the services of the child, iu most cases for ever without redemption." The purchaser has a power of re-sale, although some dispute it. It is certainly exercised amongst the Chinese in the mainland, and occasionally in Hongkong. Their books have a common form of re-sale. (See appendix for a number of forms).

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It is not within the scope of this Memorandum to discuss the question how far children of poor chinese benefit by the existence of their custom of sale, or how far infanticide is checked thereby. That has been done elsewhere, and was the subject of debate in the House of Lords. (Hansard, vol. 253, page 398, of 21st June, 1880). But it is certain that the parents give for money and by deed or other written instrument a complete power over their child, and purport to divest them- selves of all control over its future. They make certain stipulations such as that when the girl grows up she shall be married. The Chinese Officials recognise these bargains of pledge and sale as binding, even, it appears, where the child has been previously stolen provided the purchaser has complied with the custom in getting a deed with the go-between as witness and agent. They would restore a runaway purchased servant to the vendee, as will be seen from the correspondence enclosed in a despatch to the Secretary of State in the time of Sir RICHARD MACDONNELL. (See 337 of 29th July, 1867). In that case, a girl was the purchased servant of a Mandarin. She was nearly 19 years. She came to Hongkong because she had been beaten, and the British Consul at the request of the Mandarins asked that she might be sent back, as the master had a "property" in her. The Governor very emphatically refused to recognise any such subject of property in this Colony, and said that as the girl was guilty of no crime, and wished to stay in Hongkong, he would not give her up.