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IN THE POLICE COURT AT VICTORIA IN THE COLONY OF HONGKONG.
MINUTES OF PROCEEDING.
Reg. on Complaint of Inspector JOHN LEE, Complainant.
Vs.
LI SUN HI, Defendant.
Charge.-Fraudulently bringing into the Colony one LAU CHOI LIN for the purpose of Emigration on the
9th instant, at Victoria in this Colony.
LAU CHOI LIN declared and states:-I am sixteen years of age, and am unmarried. I am a native of Kwong Sai and live with my aunt in Kwong Sai. I have no father or mother. About a month ago, a man decoyed me from my native place and sold me to the defendant, who is keeper of a brothel in Aunam. Two days ago, the defendant brought me down to Hongkong with the intention of taking me to Annam to be a prostitute. She told me so when she bought me. She gave two hundred and fifty dollars for me. I wish now to marry some one in Hongkong. I have no friends in the Colony.
No question.
MOK CHI declared and states:-I am detective to the Pó Léung Kuk. On the 9th June, at 1 A.M., I was at the wharf when the S. S. Pasig arrived from Canton. I saw the defendant and complainant come from the steamer. I asked the defendant who the girl was. She said "the girl's mother has told me to take her to Annam to meet her husband," I asked the girl. She did not speak the same dialect as the defendant. She also appeared in a great fright. She said she did not want to go with the defendant. I arrested the defendant.
No question.
Defendant made no defence, nine months with hard labour.
H. E. WODEHOUSE.
Appendix 9.
Another case which came before the Police Magistrate to-day, in which the defendant was sentenced to one year's imprisonment with hard labour, is circulated for the information of the members of Committee.
Yesterday, one of the detectives of the Pó Léung Kuk informed the Registrar General that two girls had been brought into the Colony to be sold and were in a house in Wellington Street. On receipt of this information the Registrar General issued to Inspector JOHN LEE an order to search the house in question and remove therefrom any woman or girls liable to be dealt with under the Women and Girls' Protection Ordinance No. 11 of 1890. In accordance with this order, Inspector LEE searched the house in question and found there a woman and two girls, whom he brought before the Registrar General. The Registrar General questioned the two girls and, being satisfied from their statements, that the woman in whose custody they were found was liable to be dealt with under the Women and Girls' Protection Ordinance, instructed Inspector LEE to charge the woman at the Magistracy and to remove the girls in the meantime to the Pó Léung Kuk. These instructions were duly carried out, and the case came on for hearing this morning, when the defendant was found guilty and sentenced to one year's imprisonment with hard labour. The girls have been removed to the Pó Léung Kuk where they will remain until proper provision can be made for the protection of their interests and liberty.
HONGKONG, 15th June, 1892.
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Chairman.