212
In passing ordinance on above lines you should make it quite clear that there will be no compromise on 1st and 2nd provisions but that I will carefully and sympathetically con- sider any representations which the Chinese may wish to make before the Proclamation bringing the 3rd part into force is issued.
DEVONSHIRE.
No. 13.
DESPATCH FROM GOVERNOR TO SECRETARY OF STATE.
6th March, 1923.
Enclos-
ure 1.
My Lord Duke,
I have the honour to forward for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure the following Ordinance intituled:-
An Ordinance to regulate certain forms of female domestic service, No. 1
of 1923*.
2. The customary report by the Attorney General is attached. I enclose also the Enclos- Hansard report of the proceedings in the Legislative Council in connection with the pas- ures 2, 3, sage of the bill.
& 4.
3. The Ordinance embodies the instructions contained in Your Grace's telegram. of the 24th November, with the modification that all the necessary clauses are included in Part II, with the exception of those which deal with registration and the payment of wages.
4. With reference to Your Grace's telegram of the 9th December, I would refer to the concluding paragraph of my despatch No. 224 of the 10th June last in which I expressed the opinion that it would be unnecessary to take special measures for the pur- pose of accommodating mui-tsai who might desire to leave their employment. The mui- tsai as a class enjoy a standard of comfort and well-being much superior to that obtain- ing in their own homes and there is little likelihood that they will be persuaded against their better judgment to exchange the sheltered security of their present life for the hardships which await them in the world outside. Two weeks have elapsed since the widely advertised passing of the Ordinance, and not one application has yet been made to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs. The methods of dealing with any such applications that may be made hereafter will depend on their number. If they are, as I should ex- pect, very few, each individual case can be dealt with 'adhoc'. If they should be very numerous some comprehensive scheme must be devised but at present it seems that it would be waste of labour to make elaborate arrangements to meet a situation which seems most unlikely to arise.
I have, etc.,
Enclosure 1 in No. 13.
REPORT ON ORDINANCE No. 1 OF 1923,
DE. STUBBS.
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS,
Hong Kong, 19th February, 1923.
1. I have examined the accompanying Ordinance intituled An Ordinance to re- gulate certain forms of female domestic service, and I am of opinion that the Ordinance is one which is not contrary to the Governor's Instructions.
*Not printed.