CO129-522-6 Mui Tsai System 13-12-1929 - 31-12-1930 — Page 7

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their Mui-tsai and that no attempt should be

made by the Government to keep track of

ex-

mái trải

domestic servants after their change of status.

It is considered that such a scheme

would provide a new and improved method of

registration and would at least give a more or

less complete list of the Mui-tsai in the

Colony. The Governor however recognises

that the adoption of such a policy in substi-

tution for that hitherto followed, would lay the

Colonial Government 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 that it

might give encouragement to the erroneous

belief and the false accusation that the

Colonial Government had recognised, and did

still recognise a form of slavery. Since however,

he sees little or no chance of success for the

existing policy, in favour of which it is not

possible to enlist Chinese opinion, he has, after

giving the matter most anxious consideration,

formed the opinion that the Government should

be guided in this matter by the advice of

the Chinese Members of Council.

It has of course all along been apparent that there would be the risk of "non-cooperation

on the part of the Chinese, if any serious

attempt were made by law to interfere with

their traditional Mui-tsai system. It becomes

clear from this despatch, if it was not clear

before