CO129-514-2 Mui Tsai system- suggested regulations and possible abolition 9-1-1929 - 16-5-1929 — Page 61

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treatment, has frequently arranged

for the repayment of money paid to

secure the services of a muitsai;

but in such cases the child was not

left in the custody of her employer,

but kept in the Po Leung Kuk until

the vendor had returned the money

claimed under false pretences. The

Governor considers, however, that

such procedure cannot be justified, and has given definite orders to the

executive officers of the government

and to the Directors of the Po

Leung Kuk that the practice must

cease.

As regards the other points

in the article referred to; the

article ignores the difficulties

of enforcing registration. It makes

the common mistake of assuming the

results of registration.

For

example, it implies that registration would somehow give the government in-

formationas to cases of cruelty.

It is, moreover, grossly misleading to say that "if a muitsai runs away, anyone who shelters her is liable to

be arrested and charged with

harbouring". The reference is

presumably to Section 18 (1)(b) of

Ordinance No.4 of 1897. Every

prosecution under this section

requires the consent of the Secretary

for