Feb. 19.
Ty another column some consideration is paid to the purchase by Chinese of young girls for the purpose of domestic service and it is because the matter has attracted so much attention at home that an attempt may very well be made here to show what has been the official British attitude with regard to the matter. There can be little doubt that as the system stands it does amount to what is termed "'slavery.'' Yet its benevolent aspects are such as to discount many of the terrors of that name, jand while the practice may be discredited by the cases of abuse which become known, it is very much open to doubt whether those agitating against it have yet made out such a case as should force the British Government to take steps to eradicate it from Hongkong.
If we remember rightly, it was stated in one of the earliest proclamations issued by the British, when taking over Hongkong, that it was desired by the then Government to interfere as little as possible with the customs of the Chinese who thus came within their jurisdiction. A perusal of the history of the Colony will show that this policy was followed with considerable scrupulonsness and it is to this fact that the success of the British rule on the island of Fragrant Streams" is due. It is that same doctrine which has contributed so much to the colonizing achievements of the British race in other parts of the world. It is not a policy of laissez faire in the face of evil, for wherever a practice has been entirely vicious and repugnant to the British sense of fair dealing it has been put down without hesitation. Such may be seen in the suppression of certain practices in India and elsewhere.
It is, consequently, to be hoped that before the leaders of the present agitation in Hongkong and at home have their way, they
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.