CO129-514-2 Mui Tsai system- suggested regulations and possible abolition 9-1-1929 - 16-5-1929 — Page 112

App. A.

112

x 16. Mr.Thomas

Mr.Thomas Griffiths,

the,- To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, if he will make an investigation as to whether, under the mui tsal system of Hong Kong, the mui tsai girls of any household do, upon the death of the owner, became the property of concubines in the household, and are disposed of by them for cash, with other elements in the estate of the deceased omnar.

x 19.

Mr.Charles Edwards. – To ask the Secretary of State for the

Colonies, whether the records of the Colonial Office snow that mui taal of Hong Kong, of quite temier years, are frequently compelled to labour over 13 hours a day, and that cages have been established in the open court where these children have been forced to work up to as long as 18 and 30 hours in one day

21st March, 1932.

Mythurz kell

The House will recollect that I asked honourable members

to postpone their questions on this subject in order that I might

communicate with the Governor of Hong Kong. The recent occurrence

in the Colony have unfortunately prevented either the Governor or myself from dealing with this matter as expeditiously as I had hoped, but I have now received a telegram from the Governor stat- ing that his Goverment in consultation with the Societies for

the Protection and for the abolition of Mui Tsai will draw up a

scheme for the abolition of the system as soon as possible. Both

the Government and the Societies point out that this process must

take some little time. I have directed the issue without delay

of a proclamation making it clear to employers and employed that

the status of mui tsai as understood in China will not in future

be recognised in Hong Kong and in particular that no compulsion of any kind to prevent girls over the age of 13 leaving their

It has been pointed adopted parents at any time will be allowed.

out to me by the Goverment and the Societies that the issue of this proclamation will involve some risks of exposing a mamber of giris to the wiles of unscrupulous persons and that before the girls are encouraged to leave their employers it would be very It desirable to have some scheme to provide for their future. is indeed obvious in view of the numbers involved that it will be beyond the power either of charitable institutions or of the Goverment to deal adequately with the situation should any large

proportion desire to leave their present homes immediately.