HC Deb 01 March 1937 vol 321 cc21-2
50. Mr. Thorne

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received a copy of the report in connection with the sale of girl slaves in Hong Kong and the Malay States; whether the report will be circulated to Members of the House; and whether the Government have accepted the recommendations put forward by the committee on this question?

The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)

The report of the recent Commission on Mui Tsai, who, I may say, are not girl slaves, has been published to-day and copies of the report and of the evidence have been placed in the Library of the House. The recommendations in the report will receive my careful consideration in consultation with the Governments in Hong Kong and Malaya.

Miss Rathbone

Will the right hon. Gentleman give full consideration to the recommendations of the minority as well as the majority report before arriving at a decision?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

My duty, and also the duty of the Government of Hong Kong, is to examine both reports.