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than they are at present, but a new burden would be laid on the well disposed. And the burden would be a heavy
one: a registration scheme would create endless
openings for squeeze and blackmail, in addition to the
interference with private life already referred to. The ground would be well prepared for such a development by the ignorance of most of the Chinese concerned, and not less by the suspicions that would be aroused in a
very large class, even of honest people, that the Govern- ment had some ulterior motive in their reistration
scheme. These would attempt to hide the truth, and
would so give tie blackmailer his opportunity. The Chinese genius for squeeze and blackmail as well as the
weakness which the victims show, are matters almost in-
conceivable to those who have not been in direct touch
with the people.
So much for general registration. It would
fail because evasion would be too easy: and because it
would lack public sympathy or even perhaps alienate it
by the Regulations that any serious attempt to enforce
it would require.
But would a partial registration scheme be
cossible for Hongkong residents alone? The abuses are
not mainly in the class that seems to be intended by this suggestion, for while it is difficult to define exactly what "Hongkong resident" means, those who have
is meant by
Λ
made Hongkong their permanent home are little, if at all,
concerned in the mi taai traffic. But all who can
afford itfrom the highest down, own mui tɛai: and this
part of the community is very ready to do all it can for
their protection. Such limited registration would mean
in a more pointed manner than e er that the well disposed
would be put to extra trouble: and the omission from
the Regulations of the regular trafficker, who moves about the country and lives nowhere, would entirely
eras culate