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can be raised, such people will not be able to do anything but fold up their arms and wait for death. The so-called prohibition in previous years of girls from binding up their breasts and the suppression this year of Chinese medical practitioners and astrologers were all attempted without the regard to circumstances and the fact that it would lead to unem- ployment, and I am afraid that such measures will only turn out unsuccessful. If the mui-tsai question is to be solved for the sake of humanity, it will suffice if the rich fami- lies are prohibited from maltreating them. Poor girls, who have been sold to be mui-tsai, generally refuse to go back to their parents even when forced to do so by their masters. They prefer to remain mui-tsai for they are free from cold and hunger and can have better food, lodging and clothing. Each year very few cases have occurred in which mui-tsai want to go back to their families.

(6) Question-Have any cases occurred in the Province of maltreatment of mui-tsai and have any persons been sentenced under these regulations?

Answer--You can find an answer in the foregoing.

Enclosure 4 in No. 20.

PROCLAMATION.

The following proclamation is issued by the Governor under instructions from His Majesty's Government.

Slavery is not allowed to exist in the British Empire and therefore it must be un- derstood that mui-tsai are not the property of their employers.

Any mui-tsai who wish to leave their employers and return to their parents are en- titled to do so at any time without the payment of any money, but they should go to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs or the nearest Police Station in order that this may be arranged.

Muitsai are warned that they must not leave their present homes without going to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs or nearest Police Station in order that they may not fall into the hands of ill-disposed persons.

Masters and mistresses are specially warned against any attempt to prevent mui- tsai from seeing the Secretary for Chinese Affairs or applying at a Police Station.

Sir,

No. 21.

DESPATCH FROM SECRETARY OF STATE TO Governor.

22nd August, 1929.

I have had under my consideration the correspondence relating to the mui-tsai question in Hong Kong ending with your despatch No. 251 of the 16th of May.

2. The question is by no means a new one. It attracted the attention of my pre- decessors, Mr. Churchill and the Duke of Devonshire, and also of the House of Commons as far back as 1922. In reply to a question in the House of Commons Mr. Churchill stated in a reply which was communicated to your predecessor in a telegram of 21st of March, 1922: "I desire to make it clear that both the Governor and I are determined to affect the abolition of the system at the earliest practicable date, and I have indicated to the Governor that I expect the change to be carried out within a year".