with
an
thy
sons
i
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, Iт: FEBRUARY, 1880.
*
111
The meeting thereupon agreed that it would be desirable for the proposed "Society for the Motortion of Women and Children
to obtain corporate existence and then authority to employ wate detectives to be sworn in as special Constables, who would have to be selected and to a certain unt (corresponding to that guaranteed in the case of ordinary Constables) secured by the Society's r, who would also be under the general superintendence of the Captain Superintendent of 1bo to whom they would, if in the Colony, report themselves daily, without however being liable to
any ordinary Police duty, being entirely under the orders of the Society.
Mr. FRANCIS suggested to the Chinese members of the Committee the desirability of spreading in te neighbouring districts a knowledge of the English law forbidding the sale of and
persons guaran- ng the liberty of the subject. The Chinese members expressed themselves anxious to do so if The one drew up a succinct statement of the provisions of the English law on the subject. Magistrates present expressed themselves willing to draw up such a digest in a brief form and PT. EITEL promised to translate it into Chinese for the use of the Society.
The Committee then agreed that apart from the superintendence of detectives to assist the regular. dire in the arrest of kidnappers, the functions of the proposed Society would be the raising and ministering of funds to pay the detectives and to provide for rescued kidnapped persons, for which an account should be published annually.
The Committee further agreed that there would be no need for the proposed Society to pay out of their own funds the rewards to be offered for the detection of kiduappers, as there is a law authoris- ing the payment of such rewards by the Government.
The Chinese incinbers of the Committee then made some reference to one or two members of the Chinese Police force being suspected of being in league with professional kidnappers, but as they had distinct proof to bring forward and would therefore, for the present, not give names, it was agreed
to go into this point.
This closed the proceedings for the day, it being understood that draft regulations of the proposed Sciety would be prepared for the assistance of the Chinese members by Mr. FRANCIS and, after con- ultation with the whole Committee, finally submitted to His Excellency the Governor together with thx Minutes of this meeting and of any future meeting that may be held.
E. J. EITEL.
Coufirmed at the meeting of 28th June, 1879.
JoN, J. FRANCIS..
COPY OF LETTER FROM CHINESe Secretary to Colonial SecrETARY,
HONGKONG, 3rd October, 1879.
Sin,—I have the honour to address you in the name of the Committee appointed by His Excellency the Governor, under date of 12th November, 1878, to inquire in concert with certain Chinese gentlemen into the matter referred to in their petition of 11th November, 1878, (C. S. O. 2641), and to draw up
e scheme, for the approval of His Excellency, to check the crime of kidnapping..
The Committee now submit to His Excellency the papers I forward 'under this enclosure, which utain not only information as to the character and extent of kidnapping practised in Hongkong, but d a detailed scheme for the suppression of this crime by means of the aid which an organised native
ciety for the protection of women and children would render to the Executive.
The Committee beg to urge upon His Excellency the Governor to sanction the proposed Asso- iation, and to authorise the Chinese gentlemen, who are the promoters of this excellcut organisation,
take the necessary steps to carry out their ideas.
rhere
ssible,
The Honourable W. H. MARSII,
tably
Colonial Secretary,
c.,
&c.,
&c.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
E. J. EITEL.