7
their Mui-tsai and that no attempt should be
made by the Government to keep track of
ex-
mái trải
domestic servants after their change of status.
It is considered that such a scheme
would provide a new and improved method of
registration and would at least give a more or
less complete list of the Mui-tsai in the
Colony. The Governor however recognises
that the adoption of such a policy in substi-
tution for that hitherto followed, would lay the
Colonial Government open to the charge of using
a device similar to that by which Mui-tsai were
to cease to exist at Canton by means of a mere
verbal change in their description, and that it
might give encouragement to the erroneous
belief and the false accusation that the
Colonial Government had recognised, and did
still recognise a form of slavery. Since however,
he sees little or no chance of success for the
existing policy, in favour of which it is not
possible to enlist Chinese opinion, he has, after
giving the matter most anxious consideration,
formed the opinion that the Government should
be guided in this matter by the advice of
the Chinese Members of Council.
It has of course all along been apparent that there would be the risk of "non-cooperation
on the part of the Chinese, if any serious
attempt were made by law to interfere with
their traditional Mui-tsai system. It becomes
clear from this despatch, if it was not clear
before