74
(2) Question-Has the buying and selling of mui-tsai been entirely suppressed in the Province ?
Answer-The regulations were very strictly enforced in the 1st year of the Republic (1912) by Chan King Wa (the then Police Commissioner in Canton). During his regime more than 10 cases of dispute over mui-tsai occurred, and the mui-tsai were handed back to their parents by him. Later the political situation changed, and as time went by slackness grew, and the regulations became practically a dead letter. After the regulations were amended in the 16th year (1927) purchases of mui-tsai still continued despite the prohibition specified therein, and this shows the impracticability of the regulations.
(3) Question Have any notable cases of dispute occurred as a result of which mui-tsai have been sent to school?
Answer-Some masters send their mui-tsai to school in the hope that they can be sold to rich families as concubines for one or two hundred dollars more. I have not heard of any mui-tsai being sent to school as a result of any dispute reported to a Police Station.
(4) Question-Have any associations or schools been established in the Province for the accommodation of mui-tsai?
Answer-None yet. The annual revenue of the Government of Kwangtung amounts to $100,000,000 but the funds appropriated for educational purposes do not constitute 20 per cent, of the expenditure of the civil and military admin- istration. Probably of all provinces, Kwangtung has been given the least funds for educational purposes. At present any delay in sending in an application will make an applicant unable to gain admission to any municipal or public school. This shows the insufficiency of schools to meet the education of the community, so how can they afford to establish schools for the accommodation of mui-tsai ?
(5) Question-Have Associations for the Abolition of Mui-tsai been estab- lished in the Province ?
Answer-The abolition of mui-tsai is a good idea in the interests of humanity. But China is a vast country with a dense population, and the idea cannot be altogether excellent. Piracy and unemployment prevail in all outlying districts. Industry and trade have not yet been developed, and no institutions have been established for the accommodation of the unemployed. The cost of living in Kwangtung is particularly high, and poor families of several persons generally cannot earn enough for their support. People who have several daughters will sell some of them to others as mui-tsai in the hope that they can secure means of livelihood with the sum of about $100 which is acquired through the sale, and save their families from starvation. If mui-tsai are suddenly abolished, unless loans can be raised, such people will not be able to do anything but fold up their arms and wait for death. The so-called prohibition in previous years of girls from binding up their breasts and the suppression this year of Chinese medical practitioners and astrologers were all attempted without due regard to circumstances and the fact that it would lead to unemployment, and I am afraid that such measures will only turn out unsuccessful. If the mui-tsai question is to be solved for the sake of humanity, it will suffice if the rich families are prohibited from maltreating them. Poor girls, who have been sold to be mui-tsai, generally refuse to go back to their parents even when forced to do so by their masters. They prefer to remain mui-tsai, for they are free from cold and hunger and can have better food, lodging and clothing. Each year very few cases have occurred in which mui-tsai want to go back to their families.
(6) Question-Have any cases occurred in the Province of maltreatment of mui-tsai and have any persons been sentenced under these regulations ?
Answer-You can find an answer in the foregoing.
75
Enclosure 4 in No. 20,
PROCLAMATION.
The following proclamation is issued by the Governor under instructions from His Majesty's Government.
Slavery is not allowed to exist in the British Empire and therefore it must be understood that mui-tsai are not the property of their employers.
Any mui-tsai who wish to leave their employers and return to their parents are entitled to do so at any time without the payment of any money, but they should go to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs or the nearest Police Station in order that this may be arranged.
Mui-tsai are warned that they must not leave their present homes without going to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs or nearest Police Station in order that they may not fall into the hands of ill-disposed persons.
Masters and mistresses are specially warned against any attempt to prevent mui-tsai from seeing the Secretary for Chinese Affairs or applying at a Police Station.
No. 21.
Despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor of Hong Kong.
SIR,
Downing Street,
22nd August, 1929.
I have had under my consideration the correspondence relating to the mui-tsai question in Hong Kong ending with your despatch of the 16th of May.*
2. The question is by no means a new one. It attracted the atten- tion of my predecessors, Mr. Churchill and the Duke of Devonshire, and also of the House of Commons as far back as 1922. In reply to a Question in the House of Commons Mr. Churchill stated in a reply which was communicated to your predecessor in a telegram of 21st of March, 1922†: "I desire to make it clear that both the Governor and I are determined to affect the abolition of the system at the earliest practicable date, and I have indicated to the Governor that I expect the change to be carried out within a year."
3. In pursuance of this policy an Ordinance was passed on the 15th of February, 1923, entitled "The Female Domestic Service Ordinance, 1923." The first part of this Ordinance negatived the idea that rights of property in a female child could be conferred on a third person by payment to the parent or guardian of such child. The second part amongst other things provided that no person should hereafter take into his employment any mui-tsai, and forbade the transference of an existing mui-tsai from one employer to another.
* No. 20.
† No. 4.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.