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consideration would convince them that this supposition was not logical. Certainly they could not dispense with the whole matter simply because a few members of the police force might be found to squeeze money from Chinese street hawkers. He believed that if registration were enforced for 12 years, the mui-tsai system would vanish altogether.
2. Other objections were, that undesirable characters may pose as policemen and enter houses, or that the investigators may interfere with the peace of homes.
He continued: According to private estimates, there are about 10,000 mui-tsai in Hong Kong, and according to the investigation of some six years ago, there were in Hong Kong and on the mainland a total of 8,653 mui-tsai, of whom 5,758 were under the age of 14.
If the Government should enforce registration, in six years' time the 6,000 or more mui-tsai now about 14 or 15 years old will be at a mature age. The majority of them can be married, whilst the rest can earn their own living as free housemaids.
Another good factor in the registration system is that quite a number of the owners will be willing to hand over their mui-tsai to the Government's public ward or similar places under the supervision of the Government. Furthermore, most of the parents of the mui-tsai will be willing to take their daughters back provided they have the consent of the owners.
Other good points of the registration will be:—
(1) To obtain the exact number of mui-tsai.
(2) To prevent secret buying and selling of girls.
(3) To decrease the kidnapping evil.
(4) To enable us to enforce the Domestic Servants Ordinance of 1923 and make this law more effective.
We hope to abolish the whole mui-tsai system in 12 years, by providing that registered mui-tsai will be given full freedom on reaching the age of 18.
Now it is clear why registration should be enforced. It is understood that to put this into effect will involve considerable work and time, but, gentlemen, the reward of our work will be the freedom of the thousands of young girls who are now under bond. It is therefore proposed to petition the Government, and we hope this will have the support of you all."
Proposed Petition.
The proposed petition to the Government, and the proposed draft regulation governing the registration of mui-tsai, were then announced, as follows:-----
Registration Regulations (mui-tsai).
(1) After the announcement of the registration law all mui-tsai should be registered within six months' time.
(2) The deeds providing for the bondage of the girls should be tendered to and destroyed by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, who in turn should give the master or mistress another form, giving him or her rights over the mui-tsai. (3) Both the master and the mui-tsai should personally attend at the registra- tion office during the registration, when it should be explained to the master that in future he would have to treat the girls as ordinary servants. Meanwhile, it would give the mui-tsai the opportunity to understand her future position, and the treatment she may expect to receive from her master.
(4) The owner should report to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs at any time if a mui-tsai is leaving the Colony, if she is going to marry, or she reaches the age of 18, when she may secure her full freedom.
(5) In case any mui-tsai should happen to pass through and stay in Hong Kong for over two weeks, the master or mistress should report the fact to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, and when the girl leaves the Colony, should report the fact to the same office. For those of the mui-tsai who stay in Hong Kong for over a month, the master or mistress should give her up to the Po Leung Kuk, awaiting the coming of the girl's parents to claim her.
(6) Wages should be fixed for the mui-tsai, as follows: From 12 to 14 years old, 50 cents a month; from 15 to 17, $1 a month; whilst those who are over 18 can work as free maid-servants under a former master or mistress, or go to other employment, but must first report to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, stating that the age has been reached.
(7) All mui-tsai who are ill-treated, not registered, or delayed in Hong Kong for over the given period should be entrusted to the Po Leung Kuk, and the latter should advertise in the newspapers for the parents or near relatives to come and claim her. The Po Leung Kuk should execute this duty free for the mui-tsai's parents.
Regulations for Adopted Daughters.
(1) Parents of all adopted daughters should register the names of the latter not more than six months after the promulgation of the law. After that period those who want to register should be required to furnish proof from a solicitor, confirming that the girl is adopted.
(2) The deed of the adoption should be tendered to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, who should place on it a mark confirming that the girl is an adopted daughter.
(3) The adopted daughter should be present during the registration, to enable her to understand her future position as a daughter of the family.
(4) The parents of the adopted girl should provide the latter with an educa- tion similar to that given to their own daughters.
(5) A heavy fine should be imposed on those who employ an adopted daughter as a mui-tsai, and imprisonment if they employ or sell her for prostitution.
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