-3-
letter-(see Appendix I,page 27.) The last half-yearly
report shows that during the six months ending the 31st
May last, the number of registered mui-tsai over the age
48
of 18 had increased by 131 (from 285 to 416), and that during
the same period only 39 had married and only 34 had found
other employment. Under the ancient custom, the employer
was under a strong moral obligation to find a suitable
husband for his mui-tsai, when she reached a marriageable
age. Why then,in Hong Kong, are there so many unmarried
mui-tsai of marriageable age? If they are unmarriageable,
when as a matter of fact- do they cease to be mui-tsai?
The fact that out of 2,122 registered mui-tsai,
416 (nearly 20%-) are over the age of 18 years affords a
clue which may lead to a more systematic examination of
of the whole problem.
I will refer to it in a later
paragraph. In this connection, I will say that this
question of the "age limit" seems to be one of the factors
that may indicate that the problem,in its essence, bound
up with the entire system in Hong Kong of the recruitment
and employment of Chinese girls taken from their parents
at an early age for domestic service.
Second Question. My question related to mui tsai,
whose parents were dead, unknown or in places so remote
"
that "restoration was impossible. The Committee's finding
is that the law requres amendment.
Thereupon the
Committee makes a recommendation of far reaching effect.
If I understand the report correctly, the proposal is that
there should be an "Official Guardian" for every mui-tsai,
wherever her parents may be. There is the definite
recommendation that "the connection between the officer
entrusted with the suppression of the system and the officer
detailed to protect the children should be severed".
There seems to be some confusion of thought.
The need for
"parental control", which has been mentioned above, is
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