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to be a punishable offence. Although Ordinances have to be rigidly enforced, we beg to point out that undue interference by the Police and Excise Officers with arrivals in the Colony accompanied by their natural or adopted daughters cannot be too strongly deprecated. It is recommended that the fullest publicity is to be given to the provisions of the Ordinance, which should be available to the public at all the police-stations, markets, river and coastal steamers, and trains, and a copy of which should be served on every householder whose name appears in the latest Census as the owner of one or more mui-tsais.
Employment Bureau.
As will be seen from Appendix A, mui-tsais over the age of 20 years (according to Chinese reckoning) regain their liberty. Although it is expected that the majority of them will remain with their present owners as servants on monthly wages, pro- vision for the absorption of those who fail to make this arrangement has to be made. Hence the necessity for an employment bureau, which will be extremely useful in the event of the accommodation in the proposed Industrial Home being insufficient for the purposes for which it is designed. In such an eventuality, it will be permis- sible for this bureau to let out to respectable householders, on wages, the services of those mui-tsais over ten years of age who have to rely upon the Government for support. Applications for the service of these girls must be accompanied by a chop guarantee that the girls will be properly fed, clothed, and treated.
Industrial Home.
Full particulars and estimates of the proposed home are given in Appendix B. It will be recalled that the "Commission to enquire into the Conditions of the Industrial Employment of Children to Hong Kong," in its report to the Government, has recommended the institution of such an establishment to solve the child labour problem and that the "League of Fellowship and Service has, on its programme, the same object in view, In short there is already a strong public opinion in favour of the establishment of such a home, in which seri-culture, the promotion and improvement of which is one of the recommendations of the Economic Resources Committee, should form the chief industry. The estimates and particulars are furnished to us by Mrs. A. O'Ben (Mrs. Au Bun), who, during the past three years has been conducting, at her own expense, a home on similar lines in Shanghai for the benefit of orphans of both sexes, and who, if requested by the Government, may agree to assist. We beg to state that increase of accommodation in the proposed home can be effected at small extra cost by the erection of wooden tenements with fireproof roofs.
In conclusion, we have to add that, as the scheme for abolition is urgently required, the time at our disposal prevents us from going further into details. However, we shall be glad to supply information or suggestions to the Government on any point that may require elucidation or explanation.
We remain, etc.,
CHAU TSUN NIN, TSE KA PO,
WONG KWONG TIN,
M. K. Lo,
C. F. ANDERSON,
T. F. HUNG,
NGAN KWAN YU,
J. M. WONG,
T. P. Woo,
CHAU WAI CHEUNG.
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APPENDIX A.
LEGISLATION.
I. Definition. (a). The expression "Mui-tsai" shall mean and include any female under the age of 20 years (according to Chinese reckoning) whose main or general function it is to be about the employer's person or establishment for the purpose of ministering to the employer's needs or wants or carrying out the employer's orders or the needs or wants or orders of those who are members of such establishment or of those resorting to such establishment including guests, but does not include :--
(1) Any female who is adopted by any person as a daughter and who is treated in all respects as if she were a member of his family.
(2) Any female who is bona fide employed as a domestic servant on salary basis.
(b) The expression "Employer "shall mean and include the person who purchased any mui-tsai or to whom for any consideration or for no consideration the mui-tsai was transferred, and the person who for the time being has the custody control or care of the mui-tsai, such person not being the mui-tsai's father or mother or natural guardian according to Chinese Law and Custom.
(c) The expression "Parent
shall mean and include the father and mother of any mui-tsai, or other person who is the natural guardian of the mui-tsai according to Chinese Law and Custom.
(d) The expression "Registered Mui-tsai" shall mean any mui-tsai registered in accordance with this Ordinance.
II. The Secretary for Chinese Affairs shall keep in the form prescribed by the Governor-in-Council a register of mui-tsais. Such form may be modified from time to time by the Governor-in-Council.
III. The Secretary for Chinese Affairs shall cause to be printed copies of the prescribed form.
IV. It shall be the duty of the employer of any mui-tsai to apply to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs for a printed copy of the prescribed form and shall fill therein all the prescribed particulars and shall annex thereon a photograph of the prescribed size of the mui-tsai to which such form shall relate. The employer shall furnish to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs and sign a printed copy of such form containing the prescribed particulars and the prescribed photograph.
V. The employer shall from time to time notify the Secretary for Chinese Affairs of any change in the particulars supplied and the Secretary for Chinese Affairs shall modify the register accordingly.
VI. Every employer who wilfully refuses or neglects to fill up, sign and furnish to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs a printed copy of the prescribed form containing the prescribed photograph within one month after the passing of this Ordinance, or who wilfully makes, signs or furnishes to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, or causes to be made, signed or furnished any false return as to any of the matters specified in the printed form shall on Summary Conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment not exceeding one year.
VII. (a). All presentation cards, contracts or other documents whatsoever relating to any mui-tsai who shall not be registered in accordance with this Ordinance shall be null and void except as to any benefit enuring to the mui-tsai thereunder, and any parent shall be entitled to be restored to him any mui-tsai not so registered as aforesaid.
(b) In case any employer shall be in doubt as to whether any parent seeking to have such mui-tsai restored to him is the proper person to be restored such mui-tsai, such employer or parent shall refer the matter to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs whose decision shall be final and binding on both parties.
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