§ 30. Mr. PHILIP OLIVERasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether seeing that a child, Leung Mee, aged seven years, was sold to Choy Shi, of Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, for 95 dollars Canton currency, and that this purchase was a criminal act, he can state what, if any, action has been taken against those concerned in the sale and purchase of this child?
§ Dr. SHIELSMy Noble Friend has no information of the case, but he will ask the Governor of Hong Kong for a report, and, in the meantime, I would be glad to have any information which the hon.. Member may care to give me.
§ Miss PICTON-TURBERVILLWill the hon. Gentleman lay on the Table papers on the working of the reforms in connection with the mui-tsai system in Hong-Kong?
§ Dr. SHIELSI would inform the hon. Lady that a system of registration has been instituted, the period of which will terminate in July, and we propose, after that date, to examine the whole position, and I shall then be very glad to consider the hon. Lady's suggestion.
§ Miss PICTON-TURBERVILLAre the Government satisfied with the working of these reforms?
§ Dr. SHIELSThe reforms have not been completely worked out, but so far as they are going the position is very much improved.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEMay I ask why slavery is allowed to flourish under a Labour Government?
§ Dr. SHIELSI made no such admission.