Sessional_Paper_1935 — Page 222

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its case.

If the Government had dared to face the facts; if it had recognized that Chinese custom and Chinese honour upheld the monetary transaction; and if it had (in the manner now suggested) helped the girls to build up Savings Bank Accounts, many a Muitsai, who now feels bound in honour to remain where she is, might by now have earned her independence. This could have been done and can still be done without, in any way, infringing the provision of Section 10 of the Ordinance, which is that any Muitsai may apply to be re- stored to her parents without any repayment. At the same time, I think it would be a mistake for the Hong Kong Government to allow the introduction of the Savings Bank system to be understood to be a measure, primarily designed to encourage Muitsai to make repay- ments. It should be regarded as a measure to stimulate thrift and to encourage independence."

The Female Domestic Service Ordinance a Charter of Liberty?

Fraud not

unknown among the Chinese.

Repayment of loans by Government would lead to fraud.

Charitable relief should come from charitable organisations.

Savings Bank.

Chinese girl naturally thrifty.

Difficult to know where to hide her money.

Answer.

а

The Committee are unable to understand the references to Charter of Liberty ". Neither the Female Domestic Service Ordi- nance 1923 as a whole, nor the declaration contained in Section 3 bears this character. The declaration in Section 3 is merely a new version in statutory form, of a proclamation issued in 1845, when the British Government disallowed the first Ordinance passed in the Colony, namely, one abolishing slavery and providing financial assist- ance to the slaves. This declaration in one form, or another, has been issued at regular intervals. The Secretary for Chinese Affairs exercised powers of protection as early as 1887.

The Committee cannot, unfortunately, agree that Chinese always regard their word as their bond. While they have a very high ap- preciation of commercial morality, this appreciation is not universal. In fact, one of the concerns of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, in the past at least, was the prevalence of the fraud known as flying the white pigeon ". This consists in the fraudulent selling of a girl as a Muitsai, concubine or wife by a confederate of the parent or husband. The latter then comes to Hong Kong to claim her return.

CC

The Committee feel that the repayment of loans, or sale price, by the Government, or by the suggested method of making the em- ployer repay himself would lead only to fraud. On the other hand an official guardian with the normal powers and duties of a Guardian, might find many cases where a family had parted with a child in time of stress, and where in the child's interest, it would be desirable to return her to her parents and, at the same time, to repay the em- ployer. The Committee feel, however, that even in such a case it would be unwise to use Government money for this purpose. The funds of some charitable organisation should be relied on in such a

case.

The Committee feel that Sir George Maxwell's suggestion that the children be given a Savings Bank Account deserves serious consideration. The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation operates such a bank on behalf of the Hong Kong Government and would, the Committee have no doubt be prepared to co-operate.

The Chinese girl is thrifty by nature-her real need is a place of security for her money. If she were given a Savings Bank Account and were encouraged to go to the Bank herself, she would have a place where she was known, a place to which she could go in time of need and she would have a link with the world outside her employer's house. In many cases the Savings Bank Account would go on increas- ing year after year and would give a feeling of financial independence. Possibly an account with a European Bank would create a feeling of