Dr Thomas Shiels: I am afraid that there is no change since the last time I answered a question on this subject. It is much the same.
Dr Thomas Shiels: I beg to move, in page 1, line 18, after the word "Africa" to insert the word "Loans."
Dr Thomas Shiels: In the first place I should like to say that I am much obliged to the right hon. and learned Member for Spen Valley (Sir J. Simon) for his courtesy in suiting my convenience as to the time of raising this matter and for having given me notice of his main points. In view of the many inaccurate statements and misrepresentations which have been made about mui-tsai in Hong Kong, I am glad of an...
Dr Thomas Shiels: I am not sure whether there was any specific paragraph in the regulations issued dealing with that matter, but I am coming to the question of inspection in a moment or two. Before going on to say how the law is working out and what has been done under it, I want to point out what it is very important to remember, and that is, the difficulties which the Hong Kong Government have to face in...
Dr Thomas Shiels: That is so, but if the right hon. Gentleman had allowed me to continue he would have found that I quite understood that point, and that my observation was mainly preliminary to dealing with the point that he has just made. I say that no one could take up the attitude that a mui-tsai is, in the first place, legally in the position of a slave. The status of slavery is illegal in Hong Kong and...
Dr Thomas Shiels: They exist for the purpose of the prevention of cruelty to children and they do, I understand, make inspections. I have said that one of the inspectors is a Chinese lady inspector whose business it is to deal with these cases. I think that Members of the Committee will find that there is a considerable amount of inspection and very considerable opportunity for bringing to light any abuses...
Dr Thomas Shiels: The new Governor, before going out to take up these duties in Hong Kong, was specially seen by my Noble Friend and myself. We went very carefully into this matter with him and made it very clear what the intention of His Majesty's Government was, and we impressed on him the importance of carrying out the regulations in all thoroughness. He has paid personal surprise visits to mui-tsai homes;...
Dr Thomas Shiels: I am surprised at the suggestion which has been made by the hon. Member. I took it as a matter of course that I certainly condemn the mui-tsai system. My Noble Friend has condemned it, and we are doing everything we possibly can to end it.
Dr Thomas Shiels: The number of civil servants affected by the new rates of converting sterling salaries into dollars is approximately 930. The reduction in income calculated in dollars is 16⅔ per cent. in each case.
Dr Thomas Shiels: I have explained this matter, in reply to previous questions. As the hon. Member is aware, the financial position in Hong Kong is very serious, and arrangements were made to make the readjustment as easy as possible, and with every consideration for those who have remitted part of their salaries. A financial commission is at present in Hong Kong investigating the currency position, and it...
Dr Thomas Shiels: No, Sir, I do not think that that statement can be justified at all. As hon. Members are aware, Hong Kong has a special currency and, under local conditions, it went down to a very low level. I do not think that this could be termed a breach of contract.
Dr Thomas Shiels: I should require notice of that question.
Dr Thomas Shiels: I would refer the hon. Member to the statement of the policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to sugar which was published last year, and has on several occasions been explained in this House and in another place. Three free grants have been made by the Empire Marketing Board and two on the recommendation of the Colonial Development Advisory Committee for research and development work,...
Dr Thomas Shiels: The Governor has forwarded a new petition from Mr. Morrison, and this is being investigated.
Dr Thomas Shiels: In view of the existing crisis in the sugar industry, His Majesty's Government have agreed to the suspension for the year 1931–32 of the annual War contribution of £60,000 paid by Jamaica.
Dr Thomas Shiels: There have been recent discussions with representatives of the Jewish agency on the subject of the proposed development scheme in Palestine. I do not think that I could usefully give further particulars at the present stage.
Dr Thomas Shiels: I do not think that the hon. and gallant Member will regard it as necessary for me to answer that question.
Dr Thomas Shiels: A state of general unrest, rather than actual raids across the Kenya-Abyssinia frontier has been produced by inter-tribal feuds. I am glad to say that a settlement has recently been effected between the councils of the Boran and the Gurreh, which are the tribes mostly concerned, and it is hoped that the position will now improve.
Dr Thomas Shiels: No. I think that the raids were mainly concerned with cattle, and there has been no raid since last July. As I have said, it is to be hoped now that there is more general agreement, that there will be no further raids.
Dr Thomas Shiels: Not for a considerable period—at any rate not so far as I recollect within the period with which I am dealing.
