Hong Kong Daily Press - 16.11.29.
CANTON'S CHARTER OF FREEDOM FOR MUI TSAI.
REGISTRATION PROPOSALS TO BE SUBMITTED TO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.
GIRLS TO BE TREATED AS DAUGHTERS
OF THE HOUSE.
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HEAVY PENALTIES FOR INFRINGEMENTS.
In spite of the war clouds overshadowing Canton, the Gov- ernment has lost no time in following Hong Kong's example in attacking the mui tsai system.
The enlightened head of the Bureau of Social Affairs has drawn up a set of regulations, which, if effectively administered, will be the mui tsai charter of freedom. But will it be adminis- tered? So many reforms are set in motion and abandoned in China! One can only wish the Canton Government every success in carrying out this great reform
REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
CANTON, November 15.
An elaborate scheme for the emancipation of mui tsais has been drawn up by the Bureau of Social Affairs, of which Dr. Wu Po Liang is the chief.
A law forbidding the mui tsai traffic and aiming at the ameliora- tion of the conditions of the present mui tsais was passed in Canton several years ago when Mr. Chu Chia Hua was the Commissioner of Civil Affairs, but owing to the in- cessant political disturbances and changes in government, nothing has been done to make it effective. The traffic and the maltreatment of these girls is still going on.
But the recent action of the Hong Kong Government on behalf of the mui tsais has revived the issue here and prompted the Authorities to take similar action.
Practically all the senior local officials view the mui tsai system with dislike and consider it con- trary to the teachings of Dr. Sun Yat Sen. Dr. Wu, the Chief of the Bureau of Social Affairs, is a parti- cularly strong advocate of aboli- tion and is doing everything in his He has power for the mui tsais.
drawn up 13 regulations, among them one for the registration of all the mui tsais in Canton. The re- gulations are being submitted to the Municipal Council for approval.
The following is a free translation of Dr. Wu's proposal
1. From the day of the promul- tion of these regulations, no mui tsai shall be bought or sold. This shall not be done under any pre- tence, such as calling the girl an
adopted daughter," etc.
2. All the present owners of mui tsais are required to comply to the following:
(a.)-Registration regulations:- All mui tsais shall be registered with the Bureau. Two small photo- graphs, recently taken, of each girl must be submitted at the time of registration. The following ques- tions must also be answered.
(4.)-Name,
age, birth place,
address, and occupation of the
owner.
(B.)--Name, age, birth place and
address of the mui tsai. (C.)-Name, age, birth place, ad- dress and occupation of the father or guardian of the girl.
(D.)-Name, age, birth place, ad- dress and occupation of the go-between who effected the transaction.
""
(E.) The reason for selling the
girl.
(F.) When was she sold, and the
terms of the agreement be- tween the two parties. (G.)—What was her cost price? (b.) In regard to treatment: --
4.)-All the mui tsai owners
must treat their mui tsais as they do their own daughters. Adequate food, clothing and lodging must be provided. There must be no discrimina- tion whatever between mui fsai and their own daughters. (B.)-Those whose ages are below 12 must be sent to school. (C.) Those who are above 13 years of age must also be sent
to school for a certain num- ber of hours a day after com- pleting their routine house work.
(D.)—No flogging or any sort of
bodily punishment shall be inflicted on the mui tsais. (c.)-In_regard to marriage :- (A.)-When a mui tsai is of age,
her owner should find a good husband for her. This should be done before she is 21. (B.)-No such marriage shall be
effected unless the girl con- cerned has explicitly agreed to it.
or
(C) The owner shall not de- mand of the husband family with whom the slave girl is ging to live, fees or purchase money or any sort.
3. Owners of mui tsai violating regulation 1 will have one or other of the following penalties impos- ed:-
(a.)-Restoration of the mui tsai to her parents. And if they are dead or cannot be located, the mui tsai will be placed in the Poor People's Institute.
(6.)-Punishment
of the mui tsai's owner according to law.
4.-Violation of regulation 2 (a) will be punished according to the terms contained in regulation 3.
5.-Those violating regulation 2 (b) will be first warned. If the offence is repeated a fine not ex- ceeding $1,000 will be inflicted. And if the person is found guilty for the third time, his penalty will be either one of the items listed under regulation 3.
6.-Those violating regulation 2 (c) (4) will have their mui tsai taken away from them and placed with some benevolent association where efforts will be made to find her a husband.
8. Violation of regulation 2 (e) (B) will result in the nullification of the forced marriage agreement.
9. Violation of regulation 2 (c) (C) will result in the confiscation of the money thus collected.
10. In case of a change of ad- dress, death, marriage, or abscond- ing of the mui tsai, the Bureau must be duly informed by the
owner.
11. Those bringing mui tsais to Canton from elsewhere must have them registered at the Bureau with- in a month of arrival.
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12. All the money raised by fines will be devoted to charitable purposes for the amelioration of mui tsais.
13. The above regulations will become effective the day they are sanctioned by the Municipal Coun- cil.