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The papers relating to over 1,000 cases of poverty, cruelty or neglect to children had been considered by the Chairman, as the Executive officer of the Society for the Protection of Children respon- sible for Kowloon, and responsible for the action taken by the Society in nearly every case.
There are few sides of social work among the Chinese in which Mr. Tang Shiu Kin is not an active participant. Mr. Tang Shiu Kin is also freely consulted by the Hong Kong Government on many matters of this nature.
Mr. J. M. Wong is an ardent and active social reformer and a member of the Anti-Muitsai Society.
Miss D. Brazier is in charge of the Salvation Army Social Work in Hong Kong and has experience of the subject from an entirely different but possibly more important angle.
Every member of the Committee is on the Executive Council of the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children. Messrs. Tang Shiu Kin and J. M. Wong have frequently served on the Committee of the Po Leung Kuk.
These particulars are given to show that the Committee have many available resources without calling formal evidence.
The Committee have attempted to eliminate from their report anything not strictly relevant to the questions submitted to them. They venture an opinion that a précis of the material considered would prove of value to the advisers of the British and Hong Kong Govern- ments, and that an experienced officer should be detailed to this task.
The Committee desire to place on record their appreciation of the assistance given them by Mr. Sanderson, Mr. Clarke and Mr. Leung Thye Loon.
Mr. Sanderson has given considerable time to this subject, and has assisted the Committee in other ways.
Mr. Clarke has been untiring in his willingness to help the Com- mittee and without this willing assistance the Committee's task could not have been completed.
The Committee wishes to draw special attention to the assistance given them by Mr. Leung Thye Loon who has given up many evenings and holidays to the heavy task of typing for the Committee.
First Question.
FIRST" There is nothing in the Ordinance to declare the age at which a woman ceases to be a Muitsai. If she marries she ceases to be a Muitsai. But if she does not marry she may apparently continue to be a Muitsai for an indefinite period although, under Section 11 of the Ordinance, she can apply to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs who can make an order on her behalf.
In Malaya the "Muitsai Ordinance, 1932" of the Straits Settle- ments, and the "Muitsai Enactment, 1932" of the Federated Malay States, contain the following proviso to the statutory definition of a Muitsai:
CC
"Provided that any female domestic servant, the custody, possession, control or guardianship of whom has been acquired