CO129-514-2 Mui Tsai system- suggested regulations and possible abolition 9-1-1929 - 16-5-1929 — Page 177

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tions, but the period through which they had been passing was exceptional, and many of the thousand odd members of the Society had left Hong Kong, and in other ways made

the work of the Hon. Secretaries difficult in keeping

touch. However, it was felt that if the movement was not

to peter out, for want of popular attention to an evil which still existed in their midst, it was necessary to

call another meeting.

Investigation.

Those members who were now present would be asked

to elect a large and representative general committee of

no fewer than 37, who would further investigate local

conditions and maintain the desired contact with res-

ponsible Government officials.

The Chairman pointed to the "go-ahead" action of the Canton Government, which, as they all knew, had pro-

mulgated a law for the entire suppression of the mai-tssi form of domestic service, and had gone further than the Hong Kong Ordinance by striking at the very root of the evil. They were reminded that the evil still existed in Hong Kong, despite the Ordinance, by the cases which from time to time came up before the local courts. In one of these they had the glaring instance of a Chinese woman, a well-known member of society, being prosecuted

for ill-treating her mui-tsai.

The fact that the offender was sent to prison was

but small satisfaction to the Society, as in any case the

stigma still attached to Chinese nationals. If by a measure of enlightening propaganda they could achieve their purpose without resorting to more drastic steps,

then it would seem that the local Ordinance in its present