216
(Copy.) No. 406.
SIR,
30
(14)
Governor Sir Geo. Bowen, G.C.M.G. to Secretary of State.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONGKONG, 27th October, 1885.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 51, of the 12th September ultimo on the subject of a "Bill for the prevention of abuses con- nected with Child Adoption and Domestic Service," among the Chinese resident in Hongkong.
2. I referred this despatch to the Attorney-General (Mr. O'MALLEY), and now transmit his observations upon it.
•
.
3. You state that you would "be glad, if possible, to ascertain the views of some of the leading Chinese in the Colony and of the PO LEUNG KUK in regard to the Bill." I have given directions accordingly to the proper officers, and I will forward their report when I receive it. But, as its preparation will require, pro- bably, some considerable time. I have thought it right not to delay the transmis- sion of the observations of the Attorney General.
4. I would repeat what I said in my daspatch on this subject, No. 243, of the 26th May ultimo, viz., that my opinion on the entire question is fully stated in my despatch No. 189 of 1883, to which I beg to refer.
Enclosure.
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
G. F. BOWEN.
Colonel, The Right Hon. F. STANLEY, M.P.
Enclosure.
Observations by the Attorney-General on the despatch from the Secretary of State,..
No. 51, of September 12th, 1885.
Taking in order the points raised in several clauses of paragraph 5 of the Secretary of State's Despatch No. 51:-
As to Clause 1, I confess I cannot devise any definition of what should constitute "reasonable suspicion"; but possibly the Registrar General, who is acquainted with the subject, may be able to do so.
As to Clause 2, I do not think that a Consulting Committee of Chinese would furnish any real guarantee of publicity, or any sufficient substitute for it.
As to Clause 3, I do not think my objection on this point has been understood. The child could be taken away; but the question is what is to be done with it; where is it to be kept, or put; who is to have the care of it; and who is to be responsible for its maintenance, &c.
As to Clause 4. This paragraph contains a suggestion by way of answer to the last question which would seem to imply that the Chinese Society for the Pro- tection of Women and Children should be placed by law in loco parentis in respect of such children as are taken under section 3.
There is no clause numbered 5 in the despatch No. 51.
As to Clause 6 I have nothing to add.
As to Clause 7 I beg respectfully entirely to dissent from the notion that either the Association of a Chinese Committee with the Registrar General or a system of periodical reports by the Registrar General would secure the greatest possible publicity or indeed any effectual publicity at all in the working of such provisions as are contained in the draft.
October 26th, 1885.
EDWARD O'MALLEY,