CO129-514-2 Mui Tsai system- suggested regulations and possible abolition 9-1-1929 - 16-5-1929 — Page 188

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8. Meanwhile a recent declaration by the Canton

Government of a similar nature to the preamble to the Hong

Kong Ordinance marks a step in advance. The practice of obtaining servants by purchase is clearly stated to be

without validity and public opinion in China may be expected before long to accept this attitude. Improvement in economic

conditions on the mainland will no doubt hasten the change. As has been said already in Hong Kong this view has been for some time accepted without question and the fact that a

money payment may have been made is not considered relevant

to the transaction. In the circumstances it is hard to see

how the charge that the practice is in any respect a form

of slavery can be sustained.

g.

I enclose a copy of certain suggestions forwarded

to me on February 6th last by the Anti-Muitsai Society and

on these I would make the following comments:-

(a) Section (1) at once raises the question of the

disposal of muitsai whose employers fail to register

them within six months.

(b) Section (2) provides for the destruction of the

"deed of sale or gift" which has no legal validity

whatsoever and its substitution by a certificate

'as evidence of the employer's right to employ the girl as muitsai'. This would give semi-legal

sanction to a status which the law as it stands

does not recognise.

(c) Sections (3) and (4) call for no special comment.

(d) Section (5). It is difficult to see how such a

regulation could be enforced.

(e) Section (6). A very short experience of the

conditions of life in the Chinese quarters in

Hong Kong