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protection, it is now made quite clear that this
right can only be exercised as against the parents
of a mui-tsai, if there is a grave objection in the
girl's own interest to her return to their custody.
In the second place, the object is to strengthen the
power to search given to the Secretary for Chinese
Affairs by section 39 of the principal ordinance.
The power to seize and detain documents is of
importance in this connection because the deed of
transfer, where such exists, is often relevant to
the question whether a girl is or is not a mui-tsai.
3. At the same time the Female Domestic
Service Amendment Ordinance, 1929, was introduced
into Legislative Council and became law on the
31st of October, 1929. The usual report on this
ordinance has already been forwarded. Section 4A
of this ordinance carries out the instructions
contained in paragraph 9 of Your Lordship's despatch
under reference. The opportunity was taken
simultaneously to introduce other amendments which are
fully explained in the Objects and Reasons accompanying
the Bill. I enclose herewith a copy of the
Hansard report of the speech delivered by the
Attorney General when introducing the Bill.
4. On the 7th of November, 1929, copies of
correspondence relating to the mui-tsai question
were published as Sessional papers Nos. 11 and 12 of
1929, and copies were forwarded to you under cover of
my despatch No.475 of the 7th of November, 1929.
5.