43. Lieut-Colonel J. WARDasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to a report appearing in the Hong Kong Weekly Press of 7th August last, describing the terrible tortures inflicted upon two slave girls by their owner; whether he has received any reply from the Governor of Hong Kong as to the possibility of requiring all children who are bought and sold in that Colony being subject to registration and visitation as some protection against ill-usage at the hands of their owners; and, if so, what action docs he propose to take in this matter?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYYes, Sir; I have read the report, from which it appears that two servant girls were, brutally ill-treated by their Chinese mistress. The Chinese woman was duly brought to justice, and the children were removed from her custody and placed in the institution known as the "Place of Safety." As regards the rest of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on the 4th November to questions by the hon. Member for Poplar, South, and the hon. Member for Spen Valley.