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MEHEW
Asst Secretary I received a visit today from Mr.Ashew
of the National Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Children, who wished to discuss further
the information which could usefully be supplied to the Governor of Hong Kong.
He was aware of the Mui Tsai agitation and connected our request with it. Mr. Mehew showed himself to be most anxious to help and ta explained fully to me the position and powers
of the N.S.P.C.C. in this country and of the difficulties and prejudice with which the Society met in its early years. He explained the importance of a full course of training for Inspectors engaged in this work. They had no right of entry, on suspicion, into people's houses:
they had to be expert at interviewing difficult and suspicious parents: and they were thoroughly trained to the idea that their purpose was to help rather than to prosecute. I showed Mr. Mehew
a copy of the Mui Tsai Ordinance and of the
Protection of Women and Girls Ordinance, and we
compared these with the home legislation; the
Childrens Act 1908 Section 12 which is the Section
on which the Society relies as a last resort in
its work. He told me that the success of the
children's protection movement in this country (which was of quite recent growth) had been due to the ceaseless propaganda by way of pamphlets and meetings, and he urged that Hong Kong should take advantage of this lesson. He left with me
selected pamphlets, and particularly drew my
attention to Form 20 which he advised should be
adapted for use by any Society set up in Hong Kong.
He