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Enclosure 3 in No. 20.
TRANSLATION.
Answer to your questions:---
(1) Question-Have the magistrates of various Districts taken any definite steps to make enquiries about mui-tsai and get them registered?
Answer The Regulations for the Emancipation of mui-tsai were amended in the 16th year of the Republic (1927), but few Districts have enforced them, since the Dis- tricts are generally vast in area, and poorly policed, and door-to-door enquiries are im- possible. In the city of Canton, the Police have warned the people from door to door in compliance with the regulations to report in case they have any mui-tsai, and to sub- mit for examination the deeds they have in respect of them. But in each Police Section of the City, not more than 10 cases have been reported, and the regulations are only a matter of form.
(2) Question-Has the buying and selling of mui-tsai been entirely suppressed in the Province?
Answer-The regulations were very strictly enforced in the 1st year of the Repu- blic (1912) by CHAN KING WA (the then Police Commissioner in Canton). During his regime more than 10 cases of dispute over mui-tsai occurred, and the mui-tsai were handed back to their parents by him. Later the political situation changed, and as time went by slackness grew, and the regulations became practically a dead letter. After the regula- tions were amended in the 10th year (1927) purchases of mui-tsai still continued despite the prohibition specified therein, and this shows the impracticability of the regulations.
(3) Question-Have any notable cases of dispute occurred as a result of which mui-tsai have been sent to school?
Answer-Some masters send their mui-isar to school in the hope that they can be sold to rich families as concubines for one or two hundred dollars more. I have not heard of any mui-tsai being sent to school as a result of any dispute reported to a Police Station.
(4) Question--Have any association or schools been established in the Province. for the accommodation of mui-tsai?
Answer-None yet. The annual revenue of the Government of Kwangtung amounts to $100,000,000 but the funds appropriated for educational purposes do not constitute 20% of the expenditure of the civil and military administrations. Probably of all pro- vinces, Kwangtung has been given the least funds for educational purposes.
At present any delay in sending in an application will make an applicant unable to gain admission to any municipal or public school. This shows the insufficiency of schools to meet the edu- cation of the community, so how they afford to establish schools for the accommodation of mui-tsai?
(5) Question-Have Associations for the Abolition of mui-tsai been established in the Province?
Answer-The abolition of mui-tsai is a good idea in the interests of humanity. But China is a vast country with a dense population, and the idea cannot be altogether excel- lent. Piracy and unemployment prevail in all outlying districts. Industry and trade have not yet been developed, and no institution have been established for the accommodation of the unemployed. The cost of living in Kwangtung is particularly high, and poor fami- lies of several persons generally cannot earn enough for their support. People who have several daughters, will sell some of them to others as mui-tsai in the hope that they can secure means of livelihood with the sum of about $100 which is acquired through the sale, and save their families from starvation. If mui-tsai are suddenly abolished, unless loans
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