[ LXXXVII]
No. 20.
Governor Sir J. Pope Hennessy, K.C.M.G., to the Right Honourable the Earl of Kimberley.
MY LORD,
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 31st August, 1881.
Adverting to the Despatches noted in the margin, I have the honour to lay before your Lordship some printed copies of the rules, as revised Governor of 23rd June 1880. by the Attorney General, of the Chinese Society for the Protec-
Secretary of State, of 27th
August 1880.
tion of Women and Children.
2. I entirely concur in the concluding paragraph of the paper framed by the Chinese Society on the 28th of September 1880, and recommend your Lordship to sanction an Ordinance giving legislative force to the regulations and corporate existence to the Society.
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
J. POPE HENNESSY.
The Right Hon. the EARL OF KIMBERLEY,
&c.,
&c..
&c.
No. 21.
The Right Honourable the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir J. Pope Hennessy, K.C.M.G.
SIR,
DOWNING STREET, 3rd November, 1881.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch, of the 31st of August, forwarding printed copies of rules which have been drawn up for the Society for the Protection of Women and Children, together with the Attorney-General's criticisms upon them and alternative rules which he has drawn up.
2. Judging from the previous correspondence on the subject, I conclude that the rules which Mr. O'MALLEY has submitted have received the official recognition of your Government, and if this be the case it only remains for me to reply to the second paragraph of your Despatch, in which you recommend that an Ordinance should be sanctioned "giving legislative force to the regulations and corporate existence to the Society."
3. I am unable to see the necessity of passing a special Ordinance as you suggest, and it appears from the Attorney-General's Note, No. 14, that he is of the same opinion; nor do I understand why the Association requires corporate powers. If, however, such powers are required, it would seem to be sufficient that the Association should be formed under the Companies Ordinance of 1865; and that formal approval should be given to its rules and organisation by the Local Government. I expressed my opinion to that effect in paragraph 4 of my Despatch of the 20th of May 1880.
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
+
KIMBERLEY.
Sir J. POPE HENNESSY.
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