4.
18
discovered during the period under review, prosecutions were
brought only in the above mentioned seven cases (two muitsai
in the employ of one employer being concerned in one case).
The employers of the other thirty girls were brought before
an Assistant to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs and
warned, but prosecution was not resorted to on the ground
that they were first offenders and had in all probability
omitted to report through ignorance of the law.
(f) In the four cases of failure to pay
wages to registered muitsai fines of $25, $20, $15 and $10.
were inflicted. Each defendant was in addition ordered
to pay arrears of wages and the arrears were paid to the
girls at the office of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs.
(g) In the case of failure to report the
intended marriage of a registered muitsai the charge was
withdrawn because the offence had been committed more than
six months before the date of prosecution.
(h) In all of the above cases the usual
careful arrangements for the girls' well-being were made
by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs with the co-operation
and assistance of the Po Leung Kuk Committee and the
Salvation Army.
4.
Since my last report 37 further instances of the
attendance of registered muitsai at school have been recorded, the fees being paid by the employers. This brings the total
number of girls attending school to 116.
5.
During the period now under review a total of
1335 visits to registered muitsai have been made by the Lady
Inspectors. Both Lady Inspectors have also been engaged with Inspector Fraser in investigating reports concerning unregis- tered mui tsai. I am informed that quite a number of the girls whose muitsai status has been cancelled on their
obtaining employment in domestic service continue to visit