CO129-514-2 Mui Tsai system- suggested regulations and possible abolition 9-1-1929 - 16-5-1929 — Page 101

101

(17679/23)

:

age of 10, unless a registered Mui Tsai, was

forbidden; and finally, every Mui Tsai of or

over the age of 10 should be entitled to a

prescribed scale of charge wages.

Part 4 contains provisions as to penalties

for failing to comply with the Ordinance.

in 1923

The Governor's reasons/for deferring the

ffor

bringing into operation of Part 3 was stated in

a Confidential despatch and were briefly as

follows:-

kegistration.

The Chinese have a deep-rooted

objection to any form of interference to the

privacy of their domestic life. They consider

that a system of registration would eventually

involve some system of inspection which would be

most repugnant to them. The political ferment

in South China due to the return of Sun Yat Sen

to Canton made it most desirable to avoid any

steps which would antagonize the Hong Kong

Chinese population against the British Government. Su E. Stubbs

en said that in order to secure the

observance of the law it might eventually prove

registration

necessary to insist on le islation, but until

it was shown to be unavoidable he asked that it

should be deferred.

Further the Chinese

employers of the girls might, if registration

were introduced, deliberately dispense with the

of numbers

services of members of the Mui Tsai in order to

embarrass the Government.

Payment of wages. As the Mui Tsai now knew that

they were at liberty to leave their employers

they could, if they wished, make their own

terms