9
to the Government certain information from time
to time which will enable the Government to
afford the girls the protection stipulated by
law.
The suggestion that because existing
Mui-tsai continue to be called Mui-tsai, the
law does not in fact alter their status, or
effect the abolition of the system, seems to me
quite untenable. In the first place, the
law provides that no person may hereafter take
into his employment any Mui-tsai, or bring
into the Colony any new Mui-tsai. In the
second place it so alters the conditions of the
employment of existing Mui-tsai that it does
in effect abolish the status of the Mui-tsai
as understood in China and as condemned by
public opinion.
To the threat of non-cooperation on
the part of the Chinese, it seems to me necessary
that the Secretary of State should return a
firm answer. It is possible that such action
would once and for all, settle the trouble and
that those employers who were unable to or unwilling
unwilling, to rid themselves of their embarrassi ng
Mui-tsai would comply with the law, register them,
and keep them until such time as they were
married or found other employment.
I suggest that when the new Governor is
selected, an opportunity should be taken, if
circumstances allow, of informing him at the
Colonial