intended lot a
The
4f2
aft
life of infancy
has then changed from 18 to 16. Limit of
in the Straits (relevance
that that the
as it would most certainly
in both Colonies' should be the same.
Unlawful carnal knowledge has been most exactly
defined in the manner enacted by his June Ordinance (Section 6). As is well known, girls under
16 are often given in marriage by parents in China, and it appears only right that this section should not be too widely contemplated with.
This
16 and
Part II
This part has been assimilated, as far as the special circumstances of Hong Kong permit, to the Straits
Ordinance.
Section 15, clauses in it are from the Hong Kong Ordinance
Sub-clause iii is taken from Section 1 (i) of the
Straits Ordinance, and considered one of the most valuable provisions in the Ordinance. By the majority of girls
who are victims and girls in need of protection unwilling or unable to disclose the true circumstances of the position in which they are found, and it is when they fully realise that those with whom they have fallen cannot oppress them with impunity
that they
are ready to reveal the truth regarding
themselves. It is only those who have had practical experience of such cases who can realise the influence which dealers in girls exercise over their victims, and how absolutely necessary
it is for those whose duty it
is to conduct our
law with extraordinary powers. Without such all attempts to protect women and girls cannot but prove futile or at the best merely succeed in accomplishing a small part of
the object aimed at
There is no mention of a photograph in the Straits Ordinance, but the system of requiring photographs in such cases has long been in vogue in Hong Kong and I can say
from experience that it has been found most useful. Sections 16 & 17 are taken from the Ceylon Ordinance. They refer to the removal to an asylum of girls, who are to remain there until they are sent to the place whence they were brought or until some proper provision can be made for the protection of their liberty and interests, whilst under 16, the girl is to remain
till she attains the age of 19
and
can contract
a valid marriage, or, as is added
in the draft, is adopted, whichever first happens. If married or adopted precautions will of course be taken by the Registrar General's Department that the girl is being married or adopted with a respectable family.