Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 883

[LXX]

Appendix 38.

CASE OF TSAU KUNG-WAN AND HIS CONCUBINE.

I.

Letter from Mr. Tsau Wan alias Tsau Kung-wan.

HONG KONG, 27th May, 1892.

The Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.

DEAR SIR,

Understanding that you are one of the Commissioners appointed to sit and enquire into the affairs of the Pó Leung Kuk, I beg to lay before you my complaint, relating to a woman bought as my concubine, but was afterwards detained and disposed of by the Members of the Pó Léung Kuk for $200.

The case is as follows:-

In the month of July 1891, my wife, by my wish, went to Canton and procured a young woman named Lux Mur as my intended concubine, for whom my wife paid to her mother the sum of $380, on the 6th November. My wife accompanied LUK MUI, left Canton by S.S. Fushun on their way to Hankow. The Fushun arrived Hongkong on the 2nd December.

On the following day, a foreign policeman came on board, and accusing my wife of having kidnapped LUK MUI, my wife and Lux Mur consequently were taken ashore to the Pó Leung Kuk. There they were subjected to many questions, afterwards they were brought before the Registrar General, and after having been questioned by the Registrar General, they were taken away by some of the members of the Pó Léung Kuk, and strong pressure was then put on the said Luk Mur not to marry me, at the same time showing her my photograph, and stating that I was about 75 years old, and that she would be better off by marrying in Hongkong to some younger man. At first she was willing go to Hankow, until pressure was put on her. She, at last, changed her mind and refused to go with my wife. Although the price my wife paid for the girl was $380, but under threats and advice from Mr. WAI TING-PAN, President of the Pó Léung Kuk, my wife was obliged to receive back $200 only, otherwise she would lose all.

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Under the circumstances, therefore, you will see that I have suffered the loss of $180, price paid for the girl, besides $126 expenses for dresses, &c., &c., for the said LUK MUI.

Now, Sir, I think it is but fair and honourable, for the Registrar General or the President of the Pó Léung Kuk, that as soon as they found out the charge of kidnapping was not proved, and the said Luk Mur was legally bought or contracted in the eyes of Chinese law, they should order LUK MUI to be released at once and restoring her to my wife. Instead of which, they illegally detained her, and after pressure put on her causing her to change her mind at last for another man. Now, may I ask, by whose information my wife was charged with kidnapping? Under what authority the said LUK MUI was detained? Has the Registrar General or the President of the Pó. Léung Kuk any power to detain LUK MUI after having found out that she was not kidnapped? By whom the $200 was paid? Has the President the power to resell the said LUK Mur in Hongkong by taking the $200 and then forcing my wife to take it back? Evidently it seems to me it is a sale with authority which is illegal in Hongkong. It is for the above questions, I beg to submit to you my case in the hope that the Commission sitting may take steps to find out the high handed way in which the members of the Pó Léung Kuk manage their affairs, with a view that not only my own grievances may be ventilated,