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A BILL
ENTITLED
An Ordinance for the better protection of young Girls.
WHEREAS it is expedient to prevent adopted children and female servants being brought up in the Colony for the purpose of prostitution: Be it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:
1. On any complaint being made to the Registrar Ge- neral that any female child between the ages of six and sixteen years is in the custody or under the control of any person in the Colony with the view of being trained or disposed of as a prostitute, it shall be lawful for the Regis- trar General to summon before him such custodian requir- ing at the same time the production of the said child, and to make full inquiry into the said complaint.
2. The Registrar General may associate with him in the said inquiry or two or more Chinese Justices of the Peace or such other Chinese persons as may from time to time be designated by the Governor, and if after due inquiry he is satisfied that the child is being trained as a prostitute, or that it is the intention of the custodian thereof to dispose of the said child as a prostitute, it shall be lawful for the said Registrar General to make an order for the proper custody of the said child, or if the said Registrar General should think fit to leave the said child with the said custodian, and he may require the latter to furnish such security in such an amount, with such sureties as he shall deem fit for the proper care and bringing up of the said child.
The Registrar General may also call upon the said party to furnish him with a photograph of the said child.
3. If any person who has received such notice shall not appear, and produce the said child, and shall not satis- factorily account for such default the Registrar General may sentence the party so making default to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, and in default of payment may order that the said partybe imprisoned with or without hard labour for any period not exceeding six months.
4. Whenever the Registrar General shall have reason to believe that any female child under the age of sixteen years has been purchased and brought into the Colony for the purpose of emigration, it shall be lawful for the Registrar General to summon before him the custodian of the said child as provided for by section 1 of this Ordi- nance, and to deal with the case and make such order for the proper custody of the child as the circumstances of the case may require, and in case the said party shall refuse or neglect to obey the said summons, he shall be liable to the penalties mentioned in section 3.
5. It shall be lawful for the Registrar General by notice in writing under his hand, to summon before him any person who he believes can give information respecting any such female child, or its treatment by its adopted parents, custodian or employer, and any person disobeying such notice, and not giving satisfactory reason for such default shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding two hundred dollars or in default thereof to imprisonment with or with- out hard labour for any period not exceeding three months. 6. Whenever the Registrar General shall have reason to believe that any female child between the ages of six and sixteen years is in the custody, power or possession of any person who has no legal right to such custody, and that it is prejudicial to the interests, and liberty of such child that she should continue in the custody of such person, it shall be lawful for the Registrar General to make appli- cation to a Judge in chambers for a writ of Habeas Corpus. On the return of the said writ the said Judge shall make such order respecting the custody, education, and bringing up of the said child, and on such conditions as he shall deem best in the interest of the said child.
7. Any person aggrieved, or affected by any order or certificate of the Registrar General under this Ordinance may within one week from the date of such order, or certificate, appeal in a summary way to a Judge in cham- bers against any such order or certificate.