CO129-532-4 Mui Tsai system- resolution and correspondence with private individuals 27-10-1930 - 24-6-1931 — Page 75

No. 82

N

IS-

My Lord,

73

33.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG, 27th February, 1931.

5300

I have the honour to acknowledge the

72759/5, receipt of Your Lordship's despatch No.396 of 30th

December, 1930, transmitting for my observations a copy of a communication from Lieutenant Commander and Mrs. H. L. Haslewood on the subject of the Mui-

tsai System in Hong Kong.

2.

The writers allege that registration

of mui-tsai has been a partial failure, that the

Government has not taken adequate steps to make it a

success, that no attempt has been made to discover

unregistered mui-tsai, that the inspection and control

of mui-tsai are being entirely neglected and that no

steps are being taken to provide accommodation for

mui-tsai who may wish to be released.

3. Before proceeding to deal with these

allegations, I would remind Your Lordship that the

writers are not well qualified to express an authorit- ative opinion on conditions in this Colony. They were resident in Hong Kong for some three months ten years ago and have so far as I am aware no acquaintance with

either written or spoken Chinese. Like the officers

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LORD PASSFIELD,

&c., &c.,

&c.

of