7
66
present plan, we court failure, because registrations
of mui-tsai will be insignificant in number, unless
such inquisitorial methods of house-to-house
inspection are employed as would rouse intense
resentment among the Chinese inhabitants of the
Colony. Even then, I should not expect a satisfactory
register to be obtained. There will either be no ·
result at all or a maximum of friction with a
minimum of result. If, on the other hand, we adopt
the scheme advocated by the Chinese members of Legislative Council, it would lay us open to the charge of using a device similar to that by which mui-tsai
were to cease to exist at Canton by means of a mere verbal change in their description, and there is risk that encouragement would be given to the erroneous
belief and the false accusation that this Government
has recognized, and does still recognize, a form of
slavery. Nevertheless, after giving this matter most anxious consideration, I have myself formed the opinion that we ought to be guided in this matter by the advice of the Chinese members of Legislative Council. There is at least some hope that the scheme proposed by them might succeed, whereas I see little
or no chance of success for the scheme which we
initiated on the 1st of this month, and in favour of which it is not possible to enlist Chinese opinion.
8. As the registration of mui-tsai has been ordered by His Majesty's Government in deference to
public opinion in the House of Commons, I shall be glad
to receive instructions as to the course of action
>
which
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.