[XLI]
2. In order to facilitate the consideration of the request made by the Petitioners, a short sketch of the origin of the Society may be found useful.
3. In the year 1878, public attention was drawn to the question of traffic in human beings and the evil practice of kidnapping by the late Sir JOHN SMALE, who was at that time filling the office of Chief Justice. The discussion, to which his utterances from the bench gave rise, created much interest among the Chinese community, which led to a numerously signed memorial being presented by the Chinese residents to the Governor, Sir J. POPE HENNESSY, praying for permission to form an association for suppressing kidnapping and kindred offences. This memorial was forwarded to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and in reply the EARL OF KIMBERLEY stated that the memorialists should be allowed to form an association of whatever kind they desired, and that, in order to obtain official recognition, its rules and organisation should be made known and approved by the Colonial Government. Before the receipt of these instructions a society entitled the Pó Léung Kuk had already been constituted informally and was reported to have rendered much practical assistance to the Government. The Acting Chief Justice, Mr. SNOWDEN, stated that he found the society of great help in the detection of kidnappers and the Governor expressed his conviction that its operations and influence would do more than anything else to put an end to whatever was really bad in the native customs to which Sir JOHN SMALE had drawn so much attention. Rules of the society were drawn up and it was proposed that an Ordinance giving them legislative force should be introduced. The Secretary of State did not consider legisla- tion necessary and suggested that if the society required corporate powers, the Associa- tion could be formed under the Companies Ordinance and formal approval could be given to its rules and organisation by the Local Government. Incorporation of the Society at that time was found impracticable and it was agreed that publication of the rules as amended would meet all practical purposes. The following notice and rules were accordingly published in the Government Gazette of the 5th August, 1882.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.—No. 318.
A number of Chinese Gentlemen, resident in the Colony, having formed themselves into an Associa- tion called the Pó Léung Kuk, with the object of assisting the Government in carrying out the laws for the protection of women and children, His Excellency the Administrator has been pleased to approve of the following rules which are hereby published for general information.
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Hongkong, 5th August, 1882.
By Command,
FREDERICK STEWART,
Acting Colonial Secretary,
Rules for the Society for the Protection of Women and Children.
1. The object of the Society is to assist in the suppression of the crime of kidnapping, and to provide for the rescue and restoration of kidnapped women and children.
2. The Society shall consist of members who subscribe ten dollars or upwards, residents in the Colony.
3. The Society shall have an Office in Hongkong.
4. The affairs of the Society shall be managed by a Committee of ten members, who shall be residents in the Colony.
5. The Committee shall be elected annually, but vacancies caused by death or absence from the Colony may be filled up from time to time.