Sessional_Paper_1929 — Page 219

211

No. 10.

TELEGRAM FROM SECRETARY OF STATE TO OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT.

7th September, 1922.

Your telegram 5th September, mui-tsai. What are the main grounds for opposition?

CHURCHILL.

No. 11.

TELEGRAM FROM OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT TO SECRETARY OF STATE.

9th September, 1922.

Your telegram of 7th September. Chinese Representatives regard mui-tsai as mem- bers of the family and anticipate that if this status is altered to that of hired servant parental authority and care now exercised will disappear and girls will be much more liable to kidnapping, illtreatment, and prostitution. Parents in poor circumstances wel- come propects of education and marriage usually attaching to status of mui-tsai, but em- ployers of hired servants will refuse any responsibility in this respect, and custom of drowning infant daughters will be revived. Mui-tsai system is the outcome of centuries of adjustment to economic conditions. (From social point of view Hong Kong cannot be separated from China and it would be disastrous for the government to act in direct op- position to overwhelming public opinion/ Do you wish the bill to be sent to you with the detailed objections signed by the representatives of the Chinese community?

SEVERN.

No. 12.

TELEGRAM FROM SECRETARY OF STATE TO Governor.

24th November, 1922.

Your telegram 9th September mui-tsai. After full discussion with Governor con- sider law should be passed without further delay on following lines:

(1) Declaration that payment of money for mui-tsai confers no right of pro-

perty in her;

(2) From date of passing of law no girls to be taken as mui-tsai and no female

servants to be taken under age of 10 years;

(3) From date to be fixed by Proclamation following provisions as to the girls

who are now mui-tsai to come into force :-

(a) Registration,

(b) Mui-tsai over 18 to be free to leave,

(c) Those under 18 to be restored to parents on own or parents de-

mand,

(d) Mui-tsai from 12 to 18 to be free to apply to Secretary for Chinese

Affairs who will take such steps as appear to him best,

(e) Mui-tsai remaining with employers to be paid,

(f) No transfers of mui-tsais except in case of death of employer when girl would be dealt with at discretion of Secretary for Chinese Affairs.