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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 20TH APRIL, 1889.
15. In any such case as aforesaid it shall be lawful for the Registrar General and he is hereby empowered to summon before him any person (hereinafter referred to as the custodian) who may appear to him to have been con- cerned in bringing into the Colony any such woman or girl, or purchasing any woman under the circumstances men- tioned in sub-sections i. and ii., or to have the custody or control of any girl under sub-section iii. and to make full inquiry into the circumstances of the case.
16. If the custodian upon service of such summons as aforesaid shall without sufficient excuse fail to appear at the time and place named in such summons, or to produce the woman or girl named therein without sufficient excuse for such default, he shall on conviction thereof before a Magis- trate be liable to a penalty not exceeding five hundred dollars, and in default of payment to be imprisoned with or without hard labour for a period not exceeding six months.
17. If the custodian shall obey such summons as afore- said, the Registrar General shall associate with himself two or more Justices of the Peace or such other persons as may from time to time be designated by the Governor, and they shall thereupon proceed to enquire into the circumstances of the case, and shall hear and examine upon oath any person capable of giving evidence in respect thereof. vided always that if the immediate urgency of the case so require the Registrar General may himself proceed with such inquiry alone.
Pro-
18. It shall be lawful for the Registrar General prior to or during such inquiry by notice in writing under his hand to summon before him any person who he believes can give information respecting any woman or girl mentioned in section 14 and in respect of the treatment of such woman or girl and any person who upon service of such notice shall not appear at the time and place therein mentioned or who upon appearance shall refuse to give such informa- tion without reasonable excuse shall on conviction before a Magistrate be liable to a penalty not exceeding two hundred dollars or in default thereof to imprisonment with or with- out hard labour for a period not exceeding three months.
19. Upon any such inquiry as aforesaid the custodian may be represented by Counsel or Solicitor, and the custo- dian or the husband or wife of such custodian shall be competent but not compellable to give evidence thereat or at any subsequent inquiry and the Registrar General shall take a minute in narrative form of all evidence taken before him.
20. If upon any such inquiry as aforesaid, the Registrar General shall be satisfied that any offence has been com- mitted by the custodian contrary to the provisions in the first part of this Ordinance contained, he shall subject as in the next section provided, either send the case before a Magistrate or commit the custodian for trial at the next Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court. In case the Registrar General shall commit the case for trial it shall be lawful for the Registrar General to admit the custodian to bail in the same manner as a person com- mitted for trial by a Magistrate at the Supreme Court may be admitted to bail, and in the case of the non-appearance of the custodian to take his trial at such sessions the recog- nizance may be estreated and payment of the moneys thereby secured may be enforced in the same manner as if made and entered into before a Magistrate. In case the custodian is committed for trial as aforesaid the Registrar General shall thereupon transmit the original minutes of the evidence taken upon such inquiry to the Registrar of the Supreme Court who shall cause a true copy thereof to be transmitted to the Crown Solicitor. The Registrar of the Supreme Court shall deal with such evidence in the manner in which Magistrate's depositions are dealt with.
21. If upon such inquiry as aforesaid the Registrar General is satisfied that any woman or girl has been brought into the Colony by fraud misrepresentation or false pretence for immoral purposes or for purposes of emigration or that any woman has been purchased and is being trained as a prostitute or for the same purpose is being detained against her will or that the custodian of any girl between the age of six and sixteen is training such girl as a prosti- tute or that it is his intention to dispose of her as a prostitute and the custodian consents to the case being inves- tigated by the Registrar General, he may (subject to
Power to
summon.
Penalty for neglect of summons, &c.
Investigation.
Notice to person able
to give infor- mation.
Proceedings on investiga- tion.
Power to com- mit for trial.
Bail.
Minute of evidence.
Order for safe custody or security in certain caAON,