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Papers relating to the debate around evidence for the enslavement of children in Hong Kong in the 1920s and early 1930s, principally to the sale of girls for domestic service known as the Mui Tsai system, and the response of the British government and Colonial Office to the practice during this period. Includes typescript evidence from police cases; cuttings and typescript excerpts taken from the Hong Kong Press; 'Conflicting Statements made upon the Question of Child Slavery in the British Colony of Hong Kong by the Officers administering the Colony, by their Chief Adviser, Hon. Mr. Lau Chu-pak, Chinese Member of the Legislative Council, and by the Home Government', c.1921; 'Announcement for the Formation of The Society for the Relief of Chinese Slave Girls', 4 Oct 1930; piece on 'Slavery in Hong Kong. The Mui Tsai System', reprinted from The Manchester Guardian, 16 Jan 1929; leaflet on 'Child Slavery in Hong Kong. The Attitude of the Church of England and its Associated Societies', Mar 1931; correspondence, 1920-1921, with Lt. Commander H. L. & Mrs Haslewood; copy of the 'Report of the Commission appointed to enquire into the conditions of the industrial employment of children in Hong Kong, and the desirability and feasibility of legislation for the regulation of such employment', 27 Oct 1921.
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Mui tsai (Chinese: 妹仔; Cantonese Yale: mūi jái), which means "little sister"in Cantonese, describes young Chinese women who worked as domestic servants in China, or in brothels or affluent Chinese households in traditional Chinese society. The young women were typically from poor families, and sold at a young age, under the condition that they be freed through marriage when older. These arrangements were generally looked upon as charitable and a form of adoption, as the young women would be provided for better as mui tsai than they would if they remained with their family. However, the absence of contracts in these arrangements meant that many mui tsai were resold into prostitution.The practice was also prevalent before World War II in Hong Kong, Singapore and parts of Southeast Asia.
In 1922 after press campaigns in Britain and support from MPs including John Ward in the House of Commons, Winston Churchill, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, pledged that the mui tsai system in Hong Kong would be abolished within one year. Under pressure from the British Parliament, the Hong Kong Legislative Council enacted the Female Domestic Service Bill the next year. Further importations and transfers of mui tsais were prohibited. The demand for registration of all mui tsais, however, was postponed. The new law was never seriously observed. In 1926, Britain became one of the signatories to the International Slavery Convention under the League of Nations. The mui tsai issue soon came under international scrutiny. Facing strong political pressure, the Hong Kong government enacted the Female Domestic Service Ordinance in 1923. All mui tsais had to be registered prior to 31 May 1930. Afterwards no registration and thus no sale was allowed. Inspectors were appointed to pay visits to the mui tsais to ensure that they were not ill-treated and had had their wages paid. [Source: Wikipedia] |
Mui tsai (Chinese: 妹仔; Cantonese Yale: mūi jái), which means "little sister"in Cantonese, describes young Chinese women who worked as domestic servants in China, or in brothels or affluent Chinese households in traditional Chinese society. The young women were typically from poor families, and sold at a young age, under the condition that they be freed through marriage when older. These arrangements were generally looked upon as charitable and a form of adoption, as the young women would be provided for better as mui tsai than t ... View more |
