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Summarising the lot of the Mui Tsai in general it may be stated that the fui Tsai is the household drudge, the general factotum.
Her life is not only a hard drudgery, but the acco- modation given to her is poor, food is not of the best, and lei- sure conspicuous by its absence.
6. The advocates of the Mui Tsai system have often said that there is no sufficient evidence of cruelty and ill- treatment to justify registration. It must be borne in mind however, that it is extremely difficult to obtain direct evidence of cruelty.
In nearly all cases reported to the Sec. for Chinese Affairs, the Anti- lui Tsai Society is confronted with this difficulty. The explanation is not far to seek.
First: the psychology of the Mui Tsai must be considered. Through years of servitude the slave girl has more or less been cowed into submission to the master or mistress; and naturally she does not dare to speak out her mind against her owner.
Second: the neighbours who have reported the case of cruelty to the Anti-Mui Tsai Society do not in general have the courage to testify openly in court. Anyone who is familiar with the psychology of the average Chinese mind can understand and appre- ciate. Unless the Anti Mui Tsai Society can have the co-ordi- nate efforts of the witnesses and the Government Officers, it is quite impossible to adduce clear and undoubted evidence in all cases of cruelty brought before the Sec. For Chinese Affairs.
7. You have made the suggestion of changing our Society into one for the protection of children. Our Society cannot fall in witn that. That is not our specific object. Our Society aims primarily to effect a gradual emancipation of the ui Tsai, and the only way that the abuses can be remedied is through registration, which is a provision made in Part III of the Ordinance passed in 1923 as above intimated.
8. The argument has been used times without number that unless the Chinese Government takes a lead in putting an end to the Mui Tsui system, the Hong Kong authorities can do nothing to remove the evil. But there is now every opportunity for greater cohesion of efforts between the Hong Kong and Canton authorities. The Chinese Government has recently done two thing which should strengthen the hands of the Hong Kong authorities, and there is no sufficient excuse for the comtinuance of a system in a British colony which is now illegal in China.
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The new Chinese Criminal Code makes it possible for action to be taken which is in accordance with British tra ditions,i.e. Artcle 313 of the Code says:- Whoever causes another person to be a slave, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of not less than one year, nor more than seven years.
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