Sir G. Grindle
Sir J. Masterton Smith
300
A copy of the memorandum on Mui Teal by
Mr. Hallifax, Secretary for Chinese Affairs, Hong
Kong, is annexed, and an extract from the recent
census report. The total number shown in the
census is over 8000. Sir J. Masterton Smith has
enquired what the consequences of abolition of the
custom would be. It is impossible for us to
conjecture how many of them would be turned into
the street by Chinese employers who would refuse to
maintain them except as mui tsai or would refuse to
pay them wages on a fair scale. It is probable
that a large number of mature girls so turned out
would fall into the hands of procurers or take to
prostitution. The Government would have to do its
best to cope with this. (The law of course enables
them to deal with procurers).
For the younger
girls and children it would probably be necessary
for the Government to set up a charitable institu-
tion on a large scale and at great expense, but this
is an object for which large subscriptions might be
obtainable