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offence. Although ordinances have to be rigidly enforced, we beg to point out that undue interference by the Police and Excise Officers with arrivals in the Colony accom- panied by their natural or adopted daughters cannot be too strongly deprecated. It is recommended that the fullest publicity is to be given to the provisions of the ordinance. which should be available to the public at all the police-stations, markets, river and coastal steamers and trains, and a copy of which should be served on every householder whose name appears in the latest Census as the owner of one or more muitsais.
Employment Bureau.
As will be seen from Appendix A, muitsais over the age of 20 years (according to Chinese reckoning) regain their liberty. Although it is expected that the majority of them will remain with their present owners as servants on monthly wages, provision for the absorption of those who fail to make this arrangement has to be made. Hence the neces- sity for an employment bureau, which will be extremely useful in the event of the accom- mmodation in the proposed Industrial Home being insufficient for the purposes for which it is designed. In such an eventuality, it will be permissable for this bureau to let out to respectable householders on wages the services of those muitsais over ten years of age who have to rely upon the Government for support. Applications for the service of these girls must be accompanied by a chop guarantee that the girls will be properly fed, clothed and treated.
Industrial Home.
dix B.
Full particulars and estimates of the proposed home are given in Appendix B.Appen It will be recalled that the "Commission to enquire into the Conditions of the Indus- trial Employment of Children in Hong Kong', in its report to the Government, has re- commended the institution of such an establishment to solve the child labour problem and that the "League of Fellowship and Service" has, on its programme, the same object in view. In short, there is already a strong public opinion in favour of the establishment of such a home, in which seri-culture, the promotion and improvement of which is one of the recommendations of the Economic Resources Committee, should form the chief in- dustry. The estimates and particulars are furnished to us by Mrs. A. O'Ben (Mrs. Au Bun), who, during the past three years has been conducting, at her own expense, a home on similar lines in Shanghai for the benefit of orphans of both sexes, and who, if re- quested by the Government, may agree to assist. We beg to state that increase of ac- commodation in the proposed home can be effected at small extra cost by the erection of wooden tenements with fire-proof roofs.
In conclusion, we have to add that as the scheme for abolition is urgently required, the time at our disposal prevents us from going further into details. However, we shall be glad to supply information or suggestions to the Government on any point that may re- quire elucidation or explanation.
Enclosures:
Appendices A & B.
We remain,
Yours faithfully,
CHAU TSUN NIN.
TSE KA PO.
WONG KWONG TIN.
M. K. LO.
C. G. ANDERSON.
T. F. HUNG.
NGAN KWAN YUE.
J. M. WONG.
T. P. WOO.
CHAU WAI CHEUNG.