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poison in the system, is not as convincing as the one that to get rid of a boil on the head one does not cut off the head.

(5) Before the Bill, with its present irksome provisions, becomes law, some people may send their mui-tsai to the interior to be sold, or given away. or kept with friends. With the already over-populated state of the coun- try, the condition of the mui-tsai would become worse, as a direct out- come of the legislation.

(6) If mui-tsai of or over the age of eighteen are suddenly released from con-

trol, when control is more than ever desirable, they may misuse their ́ freedom in all sorts of ways; and so to free them would in reality mean the removal of necessary and salutary control.

(7) The abolition of mui-tsai would not do away with kidnapping of children.

but, on the contrary, would increase the sale of girls to evil-disposed per sons as "daughters". These girls are brought up as "daughters" without being required to do.domestic work; some with such tender care that their hands are not exposed to hard labour in order not to coarsen them! The object is obvious.

(8) If the Bill is passed, the Government will be faced with the stupendous task of finding accommodation or employment for the large number of mui-tsai who may seek emancipation, or whose employers may voluntarily surrender them to the Government. If the Government does not take charge of all these girls, they must perforce make their employers con- tinue to keep them. Thus, whatever may be the change in the name of the mui-tsai, they can have no change in their position, and it may further be said that they are kept in such a position with the approval or even the authority of the Government.

(9) To enforce the provisions of the Bill particularly that part relating to in- spection and registration. means the employment of a large army of in- spectors and detectives for domiciliary visits, and for inspection work upon the arrival and departure of all the trains and steamers which bring in and take out thousands of people every day. This would be costly to the Government, and vexations to the people.

These, Sir, are the views of those who ask for the withdrawal of the Bill. There is, besides, another section of the Chinese Community who, while advocating the ulti- mate abolition of the mui-tsai system, consider that the time is not yet, and in any case strongly deprecate registration. Now, I have given, to the best of my ability, the argu- ments put forward by the various parties, for and against the measure. The English Secre- tary of the Anti-Muitsai Society has also sent me a letter giving a gist of the views of his Executive Committee on the Bill, which I have handed to the Honourable the learned At- torney-General for his consideration. I am, however, asked to say here that what they recommend constitutes the irreducible minimum. In effect, they support the Bill, with cer- tain proposed amendments which, they consider, should strengthen it. My Chinese col- league and I have also received from the Chinese Labour Unions, the Chinese Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A., the Chinese Christian Union, and the Chinese General Chamber of Com- merce written representations which we have likewise turned over to the Government,

Having divested myself of the task imposed upon me by the two sides, of restating their opinions here, I will endeavour to express the views of my Chinese colleague and myself. We feel that where there is a divergence of opinion it is not enough for a mem- ber of this Honourable Council merely to express the views, however impartially, of the people whom he represents. He should also weigh the value of the conflicting arguments. endeavour to unravel the web of confusion woven by the disputation, and form his own judgment. In expressing our Own conclusion—our honest convictions-it would be necessary for me to go over some of the grounds already traversed, but I know I can count upon a patient hearing. The crux of the matter seems to us to be whether a mui- tsai is a slave or not. If she is, we should not tolerate the system for even one day longer in this Colony; but this point is disposed of by clause 2 of the Bill. Still, in spite of such a definite pronouncement from the Government, we cannot get away from the fact that cases of cruelty have from time to time come to light. We therefore consider that the mui-tsai need special protection by the Government. While I abhor cruelty to children