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PART III. OF THE ORDINANCE.
Besides the registration provision, Part III.,
which has not yet been brought into operation, contains a
provision about the payment of wages to Mui Tsai. This
also appears as one of the immediate reforms advocated
by the Anti-Mui Tsai Society of Hong Kong, as mentioned
in Mr.J.H. Harris's letter to the "Manchester Guardian".
The only objection put forward to this by the Secretary
of Chinese Affairs in the Governor's despatch is that it
is difficult to see how such a regulation could be
enforced. Though it is not a good thing to multiply
legislation which cannot be enforced, it is possible
that on this point a concession might be made, and the
requirement as to wages transferred from Part III. to
Part II., and be brought into force at
This would
remove any basis for the allegation that the status of
Mui Tsai was in any way more slave-like than the status
bractical of a wage-earning domestic servant. Its value for the
Its
present would no doubt remain simply as an additional
charge to be brought against those who abuse their position
as employers of Mui Tsai,
REGISTRATION,
The objections are
(a)
that it would deeply offend the susceptibilities
of the whole Chinese Community, if enforced as it would
have to be by a house to house inspection;
(b)
that it would result in a general obstruation
to Government by a community singularly able and well-placed
to obstruct effectively;
(c)
that it might land the Government with
thousands of girl children ranging from five years of
age
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