8.
154
MUI TSAI.
Replies to certain specific allegations in
article in "John Bull" of 30th March, 1929.
1. "Virtual slavery exists in Hong Kong"
The system of mui tsai is not correctly described as
slavery, but the law of Hong Kong does not in any
case recognise any proprietary rights over the persons
of mui tsai (or anyone else). The Governor has
proclaimed, and enforces when necessary, the right of all remaining mui tsai to leave their employers if
they wish.
2. "At the best their fate is to be a domestic
drudge, at the worst to be sold for prostitution".
Many mui tsai are far more than drudges; the majority
are better off than they would be with their own
parents and they are generally treated as one of the family into which they have been adopted.
Most of
find the
It is
their employers consider it their duty to
mui trai suitable husbands when grown up.
probable that a few mui tsai become prostitutes, as do
a few from all the poorer classes of Chinese, but it
is false to suggest this is a usual part of the system.
3. "In 1923 there were 8,500 mui tsai; now
there are over 10,000".
(The figure given for 1923 is actually that for
the census year 1921) No evidence is given in support
of the estimate of present numbers. An Ordinance
of
1923