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Extract from Standard Report" of 24-10-09 2638
FEMALE DOMESTIC SERVICE AMENDMENT
ORDINANCE, 1929.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Female Domestic Service Ordinance, 1923." He said: Before I proceed to the details of the Bill I should like, Sir, to make one general observation and to announce a decision. In the first place, I would observe that the general object of the Bill is to assist the Government further in its settled policy on this subject, which is to bring to an end as soon as possible the present practice of the employment of mui tsai. The abolition of that practice in spirit, not merely in letter, clearly cannot be effected by mere legislation but involves the progressive education of public opinion and continued pressure on the part of the authorities. To enable that pressure to be exercised, and to assist in that education, legislation is necessary and it is considered that further legislation on this subject is necessary now.
I also have to announce that the Secretary of State has directed that registration of mui tsai is now to be enforced and accordingly Part III of the Ordinance will be shortly brought into operation. Correspondence on this subject will be laid upon the table at the earliest possible date. I venture to express the hope that employers of mui tsai will accept the situation and will register promptly and generally, especially as, if they do not do so, it may be necessary later on to introduce more drastic provisions. The proposed registra- tion regulations are now under consideration and will shortly be published. The Government has no intention of allowing these regulations to remain a dead letter.
I now come, Sir, to the details of the Bill and I hope hon. members will bear with me if I go into them in some detail. Clause