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This should apply to the sale and purchase of Mui Tsai in this Colony. All those sellers, buyers, and go-betweens alike who engage in bartering Mui Tsai are now punishable under the new Chinese Criminal Code. In addition to this code the Government in Canton is to-day taking drastic steps to abolish the Mui Tsai system throughout South China as law to that effect has been pro- mulgated some time ago.
9. Another charge has been brought against this Society.
This is that the Mui Tsai issue is never a live one. Merely stirred up by a handful of Chinese Christians.
According to our opponents, the majority of the Chinese are not in favour of enforcement of registration. This assumption may be too hasty. We need but to look back upon the inception of the passing of the Ordinance in 1923 to be convinced of the fact that the cause had won the unanimous support of the bulk of this Colony, consisting of the various classes,merchants and labourers alike.
Then too, the mere fact that the Anti-Mui Tsai Society still retains a membership of five or six hundred of the ori ginal number, constituting more than a thousand, is a clear and undoubted evidence that our Organisation is very much alive.
If the general Committee of this Society possess the time and means to follow up the change of addresses of those who have not paid their annual subscription, the membership roll will be greatly augmented. In this connection it may be mentioned that our Society is to-day supported by the Chinese and foreign press in this Colony. If a vote were taken we would have the approval of a decidedly large majority.
10. With a view to making the suggested regulations for Registration as comprehensive and practicable as possible, I am instructed by the Committee to insert the under-mentioned clause which has been omitted in the draft submitted to you some time ago.
After the Registration has been put into force, there are owners who, rather than assume too much trouble to see to the Registration, wish to place their Mui Tsai under the pro tection and control of the Government, on the plea of being unable to restore the girls to the custody of their parents; these may do so, provided the owners will defray the expense of maintenance for these girls. In the humble opinion of this Society, it is difficult indeed to ignore the Mui Tsai problem and the forces by which this has come to the front, for it bears closely upon the rapidly changing condition of China which is bound to be actively pressed forward with greater emphasis as the years pass.
yours etc,
(Signed) J.D.Bush.
Secretary Anti-Mui Tsai Society.
L Soci