No need for
216
The Commission noticed also (what is apparent to any enquirer) that the dividing line between girls brought up as Muitsai and girls trained by harlots to become prostitutes is clearly marked. Many critics of the Muitsai System in England lose sight of this distinction. The Commission dealt with the whole subject so fully from every aspect and in so many countries that an attempt to cover the same question generally. ground would be unnecessary even if this Committee were competent to deal with the subject adequately. Further, the League of Nations' Commission were able to discuss the question with officials and socio- logists in some eleven countries before arriving at their conclusions.
Committee to discuss the
Muitsai System a possible protection against prostitution.
The British Commonwealth League and Muitsai.
Appendix No. 15.
There is one aspect of the subject, however, that seems to have been overlooked, namely, that the Muitsai System appears to protect A Chinese the girls from prostitution rather than to drive them to it. family in financial difficulties will sacrifice its daughter. Sale as a Muitsai or adopted daughter would be contemplated first. Only in the last resort might it be sold for prostitution. Most Muitsai contracts required that the child should be properly married and should not be sold as a prostitute.
Under present conditions when the sale of children to harlots is being vigorously suppressed, and the White Slave Traffic is being hampered by the Police of every country, the traffickers are seeking girls approaching the end of their teens. The Committee feel that they cannot dismiss the question without drawing attention to the danger which that would follow the careless exercise by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs of his powers. Muitsai deprived of the care of their mistresses by thoughtless official action might well become an easy prey to these traffickers in women and girls.
It is apparent to the Committee that the attitude and actions of the Hong Kong Government have often been misrepresented because the prudence necessary to protect Muitsai from this danger has been mistaken for encouragement of the Muitsai System.
Inspectors.
The attention of the Committee was drawn in their letter of appointment to the following resolution passed at the conference of the British Commonwealth League after being addressed by Lt. Commander Hazlewood, R.N. (retired).
"This Conference of the British Commonwealth League notes with concern the failure of the present laws and regulations to effect the abolition of the Muitsai System in Hong Kong. It calls upon the Government to legislate further:
1. For the registration of all girls already purchased, under
whatever name.
2. To prohibit the further purchase of girls for any purpose.
3.
To institute a far more comprehensive inspectorate to include more women inspectors, with a view to the ultimate release in fact as opposed to theory of all girls in the Colony who have been obtained by purchase ".
The Committee is unacquainted with this League. It is said the Conference was attended by 45 women's societies, covering organized groups of many thousands of woman citizens, who feel very strongly on the matter of Muitsai.
The Committee feel that few people are competent to speak with authority on the matters dealt with in the resolution and the speech which preceded it. The statements made at the meeting cannot be accepted as authoritative.