100
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 4TH FEBRUARY, 1880.
MINUTES BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR,
Write to TSANG SAN-FAT saying he is entitled to the lawful custody of his child and refer him i the Police Magistrate.
Write to LEUNG A-TSIT saying that according to British law the father Tsang San-Fat is entitle! to the lawful custody of his child.
J. POPE HENNESSY. 1st June, 1878.
No. 27.
ACTING POLIce Magistrate to Acting COLONIAL SECRETARY.
•
Magistracy, HONGKONG, 12th June, 1878. SIR,-I have the honour to request that the Attorney General's opinion be obtained as to whe course the Magistrates should pursue with respect to the enclosed petition. From inquiries which lị have made it appears the girl was sold in October last and in consideration of the purchase mone $23.00 her father, the petitioner, signed a document renouncing all further claim to the girl. Notwith standing this he now wants to get her back, but being unable to refund the purchase money the pur chaser naturally objects to give up the girl, whom, having no children of his own, he had adopted as ;; laughter.
To
I have,,&c.,
C. V. Creagh, Acting Police Magistrate,
The Honourable J. M. PRICE,
Acting Colonial Secretary,
Sc.,
Sc.,
fc.
MINUTE BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
I know c
The petition is not translated and I do not know what the Magistrate is asked to do. no authority empowering the Magistrate to order the delivery of the child to the father. A writ habeas corpus from the Supreme Court is the only means that I know of for enabling the father ki obtain the possession of the child, if it is persistently refused.
14th June, 1878.
G. PHILLIPPO.
MINUTE BY THE ACTING POLICE MAGISTRATE.
The purchaser of the girl says he is quite prepared to give her up when his money is repaid br that, otherwise, he will not part with her unless compelled to do so by law.
17th June, 1878.
C. V. CreaGI, Acting Police Mugistrate.
MINUTE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.
I fear the Attorney General does not recognize the gravity of this ense.
I must trouble him to take steps to prosecute on my behalf the purchaser of the girl,
J. POPE HENNESSY. 19th June, 1878.