CO129-514-2 Mui Tsai system- suggested regulations and possible abolition 9-1-1929 - 16-5-1929 — Page 63

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10.

In the unlikely

event of a large number of

master and mistress retain her

services for domestic purposes and

would guard her from the wiles of ill- disposed persons. Muitsai are more closely attached to the family than

are hired servants, and they cannot

so easily be decoyed away without enquiries being set on foot. It should be clearly understood that

the muitsai is only one variety of

purchased child; and it is of course, very necessary, if the practice of sale and purchase of children is to be suppressed, that the activities of all professional traffickers

should be curtailed in every possible

way. This is the aim of the Hong

Kong Government; but in practice it has proved very difficult to deal effectively with these traffickers,

deportation being as a rule the only remedy. As regards further safeguards

in this respect, unless the buying and selling of girls is stopped in China, nothing can be done in Hong Kong which will have much effect. The only effectual safeguard is to

enlist the co-operation of the

Chinese community to put down these practices by exposing any cases which may come to light.

(Paras12-13)

If drastic action were taken

by the Hong Kong Government with