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protecting an unmarried girl up to the age of 21 and constit-
uting the master or any person for the time being in loco
parentis as the legal guardian during the minority of such
girl.
The marriage of these girls is a most difficult
problem to solve. The only thing we can do is, perhaps,
that girls under the age of 21 years will not be allowed
to get married without the consent of the legal guardian
or of the person for the time being in loco parentis.
In the case of a muitsai under the age of
10 years, I am inclined to think that the master ought to
acknowledge her as a foster daughter and register her as such.
He should also undertake to treat her in all respects as
one of his own children. His undertaking in this respect
should be recorded on the Register and signed by him.
All abuses or ill-treatment of children and young
persons may be left to the existing or future laws for the
protection of children women and young girls under local
Ordinances. If local Ordinances are not comprehensive
enough for their protection, further legislation might be made,
By allowing a muitsai to change her "status" into
that of a Chu Nin Mui by registration, we at once do away with the "muitsai" and comply with instructions of the Secretary of State for the Colonies for enforcing registration.
I hope the Honourable The Attorney General may see
his way to amend in some way the regulations for registration
so that registration will have the effect of "doing away with" and not "keeping in existence" the muitsai in the Colony.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,
(sa.) S.W. T'SO.