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"it, and I gave instructions that a committee should be formed of the two Police Magis- trates, the Captain-Superintendent of Police, and Dr. EITEL, together with the leading "petitioners, to draw up for my approval some scheme for checking the crime of kid- "napping.
"On the 3rd of October last the committee completed their labours and forwarded "their proposed scheme to the Colonial Secretary. Speaking generally, it shows an "earnest desire on the part of the Government officers, as well as the Chinese gentlemen on the committee, to put down the evils to which the latter drew my attention in their "memorial."
Mr. FRANCIS, Q.C., who was acting Police Magistrate at that time, was one of the members of the Committee referred to by the Governor in the extract from the despatch given above and the suggestions drawn up by him for the organisation of the proposed Chinese Society for the protection of women and children are given in full in the appendix.*
In reply to the Governor's despatch of the 23rd January, 1880, the Secretary of State (the Right Honourable the Earl of Kimberley) in his despatch of the 20th May, 1880, stated:
(*
"With regard to kidnapping, the provisions of the local law (Ordinances 4 of 1865, "and 2 of 1875) ought to be sufficiently stringent, but it appears that the practice being "on the increase certain Chinese gentlemen in November 1878 asked permission to form "themselves into an association for its prevention, and that a committee appointed by you "to inquire into the subject suggested that the petitioners should form themselves into a "company for the purpose under the "Companies Ordinance 1865." It does not appear "that anything further has been done in the matter, and I regret that so much valuable time has been lost. I therefore request that you will at once thank these Chinese "gentlemen for their offers of assistance in repressing this form of crime, and that you "will allow them to form themselves into an association of whatever kind they desire. "But, in order to obtain official recognition, its rules and organisation should be made "known to and approved by the Colonial Government. You will, of course, give them "such assistance as you may find practicable, and especially you will instruct the police "to co-operate with them in bringing to justice all offenders whom they may succeed in "tracing. If the association as at first organised should be found insufficient it will be "time then to consider what other steps should be taken."
To the Secretary of State's despatch the Governor replied on the 23rd June, 1880:-.
"Your Lordship desired me to thank the Chinese gentlemen of the Colony who "offered their assistance to the Government, and wished to form a Society for checking "such crimes†; and you instruct me to allow them to form themselves into a Society or Association, of whatever kind they desire, with that object, subject to the approval of "the Colonial Government.
"Your Lordship's decision on this point will, I have no doubt, be received with great satisfaction by the whole community, as it has been by myself and my advisers. "The Chinese gentlemen in question have already expressed much gratification at finding "their views and labours appreciated by Her Majesty's Government."
In the same despatch the Governor states that he "had taken the responsibility of "allowing these gentlemen to institute themselves provisionally and informally into a "Society of the kind: and from time to time the local Government have obtained "practical assistance from them," and that "the rules and organisation of the Society "have been under the consideration of Mr. NG CHOY and they will be submitted before
* See Appendix 39.
te, kidnapping and similar offences.