CO129-543-2 Mui Tsai system 4-1-1933 - 11-4-1934 — Page 26

absence of a month or more; no new prostitute may

now be registered.

26

The Governor of Hong Kong intended

to call for a report in January 1933, and then to take

such action as appeared advisable to bring about the

complete abolition of brothels in the Colony within a

reasonable period. A despatch from the Colony on the

subject is, therefore, to be expected shortly.

enclose copies of four despatches for your confidential

information, and a copy of Hong Kong Ordinance No. 4

of 1897 for convenience of reference.

I

5. As regards Mui Tsai I do not think that there

is much that need be said at present. There is little

in the Report to suggest any connection between the

Mui Tsai system and prostitution. I might, however,

draw your attention to the statement on page 172 of the

Report that Hong Kong Ordinance No. 1 of 1923 "provides

for the ultimate abolition of the Mui Tsai system in

the Colony in a not distant future". In fact the

system was abolished by the Ordinance and the girls

who were formerly in the position of Mui Tsai are now

free to leave their employers if they wish to return

to their parents or if they are ill-treated. Their

status has become that of free, paid domestic servants.

You may like to have for your personal information

copies of this Ordinance, and of an amending Ordinance

No. 22 of 1929; and also of the half-yearly reports

on Mui Tsai received from the Governor of Hong Kong

since 1930.

6. Malaya. We are glad to see that the

Commission approves the action taken by the Straits

Settlements, Federated Malay States and Johore in

closing