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despatch N. 23% of 28th October, 1882, forwarding for his consideration two Bills to amend the Contagious Diseases Ordinances, drafted by the Attorney General and Registrar General respectively. It will be seen from these drafts that the statement made by The Hong Kong "Daily Press" that it was in contemplation to forbid the keeping of all children in brothels is inexact. Sections 42 of one of the drafts and 11 of the other impose penalties only when any child above eight years and under 15 (or 16) is found in any registered brothel.
The Registrar General, after reconsideration of the question raised by Lord Kimberley's despatch of 25th November last, now suggests that having regard to the precocity of Chinese children, all should be excluded above six and under sixteen years of age, but states that after making special enquiry, he finds that many Chinese think it would be unwise to prohibit altogether the keeping of children
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