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into that of a Chu Nin Mui by registration.
The master
is required to come to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs
with the muitsai for registration bringing with him at
the same time the purchase deed or presentation card.
Such deed or card should be handed over to the Secretary for
Chinese Affairs, to be kept or destroyed as he may think
fit. If the master does not want to retain the services of
the muitsai he might be made to keep her for the time being
until her parents are found and, if the parents cannot be
found within a certain period, the girl might then be dealt
with as the Secretary for Chinese Affairs shall direct.
If the master is willing to have the girl back as a Chu
Nin Mui, the term of engagement should be recorded on the
register. The masters will be responsible for such Chu
Nin Mui until she is 18 years of age according to English
reckoning, unless in the meantime the master desired to
dismiss her, in which case he should bring the girl before
the Secretary for Chinese Affairs and a record of such
dismissal will be made on the register. A girl, when
dismissed by her master, shall be placed in the Po Leung Kuk.
I think that a girl, if she knows that she will be put into
the Po Leung Kuk, if dismissed by the master, will be more
amenable to discipline. A knowledge that she is under the
control of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs; and is not the
free and independent person she may imagine herself to be
after registration, will act not only as a deterrent to
"tempters" but also enhance protection and more control.
If she should run away from the master's house, the master
must make a report to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs.
The above suggestions apply to girls above 10
years of age and under 18. As the Law does not extend
protection to unmarried girls over 18, I do not propose to
make any criticism here. But I should like to see a law
protecting