CO129-532-4 Mui Tsai system- resolution and correspondence with private individuals 27-10-1930 - 24-6-1931 — Page 124

J

3

122

Report has been issued upon the effect of the Proclamation

under which existing Mui Tsai were to be paid wages. The

payment of a wage of about 4d per week is small enough,

but of its actual payment there appears to be no evidence.

2. Hours of Labour. Following upon the question of wages,

we suggest that the Administration might now place a more

rigid restriction upon the hours of labour. In the

opinion of our Committee, no child should be compelled to

labour for longer than a few hours each day.

3. Inspection. Our Committee attaches great importance

to the question of inspection.

Here again we have not

observed that the Governor has taken any administrative

action upon the question of Inspection and Control, ag

instructed in your Despatch of 22nd August, 1929. In this

connection we have noted with interest that a sub-Committee

of the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children

was appointed as far back as 28th April of last year, in

order to examine and report upon the question. We trust

that the Report of this sub-Committee is now in the hands

of the Government and that without delay suitable persons

will be secured to undertake this inspection of treatment.

We are informed that Lady Chow and Mrs. R.H. Kotewall have

been giving some oversight to the girls taken to the Po

Leung Kuk, and it is probable that they would be willing

to place their experience at the disposal of the Government

in order to assist in securing a suitable inspection of

the 4,000 Mui Tsai already registered.

We have not observed that any steps are being taken

to provide adequate accommodation for Mui Tsai who may

be abandoned or who may be the victims of ill-treatment,

but our information leads us to fear that if and when

adequate inspection is organised, this need will be con-