CO129-522-6 Mui Tsai System 13-12-1929 - 31-12-1930 — Page 71

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

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72

(b)

+

1.

2.

bound.

But in the case of a muitsai he is

in loco parentis and is bound to do so. In

no case, however, would an employer of a Chu

Nin Mui undertake the responsibility of her

marriage.

In the first case above mentioned the girl

did not return to the Kan family with the

intention of becoming a Chu Nin Mui. She

took the liberty of coming back to the house of

her former mistress without having obtained her

leave or permission; knowing perfectly well that

Mrs. Kan would not turn her away. Her coming

down to Hong Kong may or may not be with the

knowledge and consent of her mother. Her

object in returning, as subsequent events proved,

was to find a husband. Probably everything was

prearranged for her by the amah who accompanied

her back to Hong Kong.

The inferences to be drawn from the

above cases are:-

A muitsai, when restored to her parents, would

not remain long with her parents, who are usually

in poor circumstances. If she does remain,

she would have to work harder to earn a living and would be in less congenial surroundings than

she was accustomed to when she was with her former

mistress. Nor would she submit herself to her parents' control as she was accustomed to a

higher standard of living and had acquired a better knowledge of affairs than that of her

parents.

A girl in her "teens", thus left to her own

devices without any person exercising a controlling

influence

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