Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 889

[LXXVI]

(B)

Statement of Cheung Luk.

Pressure was

CHEUNG LUK states:-My family was poor and was pressed for payment of debts. put on me to marry an old man. I am unwilling to do so, and I beg that justice may be done to me. I used to live with my mother LAU SHI and father CHEUNG SHAM in Má Tsó Pó, outside the West Gate. The family lived in great poverty. My father was dangerously ill in the 6th moon of last year (July- August, 1890), so I was pledged to a marriage broker, WONG A KÚ, for 50 taels at the rate of 3 fan interest per tael per month. One tael and two mace were to be paid per month for food.

A short time ago,

1

A KU pressed my mother for the payment of the loan of money and introduced me to a woman Mrs. CHEUNG, a fourth concubine. She said her husband TSAU KUNG-WAN was 50 years of age and was Chief Clerk in the Custom House of Hankow. He wished to marry a fifth concubine. When she saw me, she took a liking to me and took me to a Mrs. Tsau's house in the tenth ward. When I was living in her house, I heard that he had seven concubines, but as my fate was so destined, I could say nothing, but only wished to live comfortably. On the 1st of the prescut moon (1st December, 1891), I and the servant A SHIN took passage on board a Shanghai steamer. After arriving at Hongkong, the steamer was damaged by a storm and had to be laid up there. Mrs. CHEUNG came to Hongkong by a night steamer to catch the Shanghai steamer. Unexpectedly, the Hongkong Authorities sent a Constable to bring me to Court for investigation. I was then frightened, not knowing that the reason for this action was a desire to detect kidnapping cases and protect women and girls. Now, I have heard the questions put to Mrs. CHEUNG and her answers, and I understand that her husband TSAU KUNG-WAN is an old man of over 60 years of age. His life is like the light of a candle flickering in the wind about to be extinguished. I feel sad and disappointed. Further I remember that the words spoken by Mrs. CHEUNG are different on different occasions and false, and that the proceedings between the marriage broker and Mrs. CHEUNG were suspicious. In case any misfortune should happen afterwards, I shall be left in a distant place. What shall I have to rely on? So after deep consideration I refuse to go and I beg that my statement be submitted to the English Authorities in order that I may be rescued from a danger which would affect my whole life. I shall be ever grateful.

CHEUNG LUK,

her mark.

Signed by CHEUNG KWOK-TSEUNG,

the father of CHEUNG LUK,

on her behalf.

10th December, 1891.

(C)

Statement of Ch'an Chan.

CH'AN CHAN states :-I am now 24 years of age and a native of Nám Long in Shun Tak. My father is named KÜT YAN, and my mother LEUNG ON. I have no elder brother but one younger brother named SHAU KI, and one younger sister A LIN. My parents are poor, and so they took me to Canton to be married as a concubine to Mr. TSAU KUNG-WAN. I heard some one call him TSAU WAN-KUNG. After my marriage, I slept with him several nights, but not so long as a month. He had a concubine, who told me to call her Sz NAI (lit. concubine No. 4). She informed me that our husband had gone to Shanghai, and that she would take me there. Afterwards she went with me to Shanghai, where, for some reason, she sold me to a brothel. I was originally small footed, but owing to my feet not being tightly bound, they were four or five inches long. Sz NAI told me to remove the bandage from my feet, and put on large shoes, and told me to become a prostitute in a brothel in Sz Ma Lo. I was not willing to be a prostitute, and one night on the brothel-keeper telling me to receive a visitor, I refused to leave my room and began to cry there.

me.

Two gentlemen named LAU and LEUNG heard me crying and speaking the Shun Tak dialect. They asked me my story and I told them. They told me there was no need to be frightened, and asked me for how much I was sold to the brothel. I told them that I did not know, and begged them to rescue The next day, Mr. LAU and Mr. LEUNG came with a number of men. Some said that they were constables, but I do not know whether that was so or not. They took me at once to a large house, which looked like an official's house. There were several gentlemen there and Mr. LAU asked me to go forward, and to kowtow to them. Afterwards I saw Mr. LAU and Mr. LEUNG hand $400 to the keeper. They. said that there was really no need for them to give her a cash, and that it was merely because they wished to do a benevolent deed that they gave the $400 to her. The keeper took away all my clothes and ornaments, and it was not until Mr. LAU and Mr. LEUNG had bought some clothes for me that I could go on board the steamer. I am very thankful to Mr. LAU and Mr. LEUNG for bringing me to the Tung Wa Hospital, and I beg the Directors to inquire for me whether there is any one who belongs to the Nám Long village doing business in Hongkong, and if there is I beg that he may be asked to come and see me, so that I may ask him to undertake to take me home, for which I shall be very grateful.