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No. 10.
Telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Officer
Administering the Government of Hong Kong.
(Sent 7th September, 1922.)
Answered by No. 11.
1.)
Mui-tsai,
What are main
Your telegram 5th September.* grounds of opposition. CHURCHILL.
No. 11.
Telegram from the Deputy to the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
(Answered by No. 12.)
9th September, 1922, Chinese representatives regard mui-tsai as members of family and anticipate that if this status is altered to that of hired female domestic servants parental authority and care now exercised will disappear and girls would be much more liable to kidnapping, ill-treatment, and prostitution, Parents in necessitous circumstances welcome prospects of education and mar- riage usually attached to status of mui-tsai, but employers of labour hired if servants would refuse any responsibility in this respect and there would be revival of custom of drowning infant daughters. Mui-tsai system is the outcome of centuries of adjustments to economic conditions. From social point of view Hong Kong cannot be separated from China and would be disastrous for the Government to act in direct opposition to overwhelming public opinion. Do you wish the Bill to be sent to you with the detailed objections signed by the representatives of the Chinese Community.
SEVERN.
No. 12.
Telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong.
(Sent 24th November, 1922.)
(Answered by No. 13.)
Your telegram 9th September† Mui-tsai. After full discussion with Governor consider law should be passed without delay on following lines: first, declaration that payment of money for mui- tsai confers no right of property in her; secondly, from date of passing of law no girls to be taken as mui-tsai and no female servants
† No. 11.
* No. 9.
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to be taken under age of 10 years; third, from date to be fixed by proclamation following provisions as to girls who are now mui-tsai to come into force :-
(a) registration,
(b) mui-tsai over 18 to be free to leave,
(c) those under 18 to be restored to parents on own or parents demand,
(d) mui-tsai from 12 to 18 to be free to apply to Secretary for Chinese Affairs who will take such steps as appear to him best,
(e) mui-tsai remaining with employers to be paid,
(f) no transfers of mui-tsai except in case of death of employer when girl will be dealt with at discretion of Secretary for Chinese Affairs.
In passing Ordinance on above lines you should make it quite clear that there will be no compromise on first and second provisions but that I will carefully and sympathetically consider any repre- sentations which the Chinese may wish to make before the pro- clamation bringing the third part into force is issued.
No. 13.
DEVONSHIRE.
Despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. (Received 9th April, 1923.)
Answered by No. 15.)1
MY LORD DUke,
Government House,
Hong Kong, 6th March, 1923.
I have the honour to forward for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure the following Ordinance intituled :—
An Ordinance to regulate certain forms of female domestic service, No. I of 1923.
2. The customary report by the Attorney-General is attached. I enclose also the Hansard report of the proceedings in the Legislative Council in connection with the passage of the Bill.
3. The Ordinance embodies the instructions contained in Your Grace's telegram of the 24th November,* with the modification that all the necessary clauses are included in Part II, with the exception of those which deal with registration and the payment of wages.
4. With reference to Your Grace's telegram of the 9th December,t
I would refer to the concluding paragraph of my despatch of the 10th June last‡ in which I expressed the opinion that it would be unnecessary to take special measures for the purpose of accommo- dating mui-tsai who might desire to leave their employment. The
+ Not printed. ‡ No. 7.
* No. 12.
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