165
―
children actually employed in other than domestic work in proportion to the total number of children in the Colony appear very small; under 12 the number employed is 6,677 of whom 5,100 are employed in domestic duties mostly as "muitsai".
11. Muitsai.-Special steps were taken to ascertain the number of young girls engaged without remuneration in domestic service, known more commonly as "muitsai", a term which covers all young girls whose parents have assigned their rights of guardianship to other families for a monetary consideration, and whose labour is at the free disposal of the new guardian till the age for marriage. The numbers of those under 14 will be found classified according to age in Table XXIII, Part II, those of 14 and over in Table XXIII. The numbers are for New Territories North 119, New Territories South 39, Island of Hongkong 7,891, Kowloon 600, Floating Population 4; a total of 8,653, of which there are 5,959, under 14 and 2,532, of 14 and over. Of these 2,532, I estimate that 30 per cent are under 15, 25 per cent under 16, 20 per cent under 17, 12 per cent under 18, 8 per cent under 19, 5 per cent 19 and above. The majority were found in the City of Victoria between Eastern Street and Glenealy and on the Upper Levels. Under the age of 5 there are very few; between the ages of 10 and 14 the numbers are very equal for each age. The eldest noticed was aged 35, several were returned as married, and a few as widows, these evidently had found the homes of their old masters more comfortable than those of their husbands. The majority are uneducated, but in the Upper Levels where the better classes live, and the greatest proportion of muitsai are found, those able to read and write formed 9 per cent of the total. I estimate that above the age of 19 there are only about 150. The general age for marriage seems to be between 17 and 19, most being married at 18 or before. Very few were recorded as born in British Territory, or in the provinces of China outside Kwongtung. No effort was made to classify the birthplaces since in the large majority of cases this is really unknown, and Canton is entered instead, that being the place whence the sellers of the girls came. very few cases was the surname the same as that of the master or mistress, showing they did not come from the same clan. In many cases no surname was given at all, which was probably correct, the surnames being quite unknown, though later on they would doubtless be known under the surname of the family to whom they belonged. Kwongsai and South West Kwongtung, which used to supply a large number of 'muitsai', did not figure largely among the birthplaces, but the sources of supply are apt to vary according to the state of prosperity and order in the various districts. No "muitsai" as such were recorded in the families of the Portuguese and Indian population, but some young Chinese girls were found described as servants or adopted daughters, whose real status probably approximated to that of the 'muitsai' in a Chinese family. I am informed that formerly 'muitsai' were common in most Portuguese families of standing. Very few young girls are employed as hired domestic servants, the "Chu Lin (Nin) Mui" or girl hired by the year, who has been suggested as a substitute for the 'muitsai', does not appear to be popular, but there are on the other hand a large number of boys between the ages of 12 and 14 employed in domestic work in Chinese households. 122 young girls were described as Yuk Nui" a term which in most cases denotes the same status.
LE
In
Section V. Floating Population.
(Tables XXVIII to XXXIV.)
1. The floating population at Shaukeiwan, Aberdeen, Tai-O and Cheungchow was taken by enumerators under the supervision of the police officers in charge of each station. The main task, that of Victoria Harbour, was in the hands of the Water Police under Inspector Angus. A large force of enumerators was engaged. Each craft was boarded and the required particulars obtained from the person in charge and entered directly in specially prepared books. As soon as each vessel was taken, a cross in white or black was painted on a conspicuous part. One Furopean officer was assign- ed to each section of the Harbour and placed in charge of a launch and a group of sampans carrying two enumerators each. The work commenced at 7 a.m, on Saturday April 23rd in the Harbours of Refuge and along the sea front, harbour craft only being