Copy. *.
THE ANTI-MUI TSAI SOCIETY.
Hong Kong
20th March, 1929.
52
R.A.C.North, Esq.
Sec.for Chinese Affairs.
Hong Kong.
Dear Sir,
Subsequent to our exchange of views some time ago with regard to registration of Mui Tsai and adopted daughters, I rendered a report of our conversation on the subject at a special committee meeting of this Society. There was at the time a thorough and exhaustive discussion of the various ob jections raised; and in the opinion of the committee,a little careful analysis of the arguments advanced against registration easily reveals numerous and obvious fallacies.
I am now desired by the Committee to acquaint you with the answers to the objections of which the following are the salient points.
1, As you doubtless recall that in the course of our con- versation you expressed doubts as to the expediency of enforcing registration because it would amount to official recognition of the illegal practice of keeping Mui Tsai.
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The answer to that is, registration is nothing self-contra- dictory, but a logical and essential development of a consistent policy. Part 3 of the Ordinance passed in 1923 distinctly makes provision for registration, so that the Mui Tsai system has al - ready been recognised, whether it be looked upon as legal or ille- gal practice, when the Law was passed. As the Editor of the South China Morning Post has pertinently stated the case, The Govern- ment, in the passing of the 1923 Ordinance, pledged itself to abo- lish the system gradually, but it has not honoured its pledge. Had it merely failed, its position would have been embarrassing enough, but it has not seriously tried. Then, evidence has come our way to show that even after the enactment of the Ordinance, the sale and purchase still goes on.
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The case recorded in the South China Morning Post of Nov.. 7th, 1928, proves conclusively that the Government made no effort to enforce the Ordinance against the purchase or sale. According to the press report, a woman sold her daughter to another woman for $150. After a while, the girl ran away from her employer
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