legislation : they only want a clear declaration that person who take concubines who are under 16 years of age shall not thereby become law breakers: they do not desire to have the taking of concubines legalized nor to have concubines ranking as wives. Moreover the intention of the 6th section is not to forbid Chinese taking concubines but only to enforce the English age of 16. When Chinese take a wife, they do not enquire her age, it is only when they take a concubine they enquire the age of a prospective concubine.
They pray Your Lordship to look attentively into the rights and wrongs of it, for it is to Your Lordship that they look upon with the utmost expectation.
20th July, 1890.
Instead of causing embarrassment to innocent people and bringing into existence a troublesome law, would it not be better to countenance their customs?
Translated by ...
Here follow 43 Signatures and 391 Shop signs.
(Signed) J. Sercombe Smith.
Having a care for the prosperity of peacefully Hongkong where men enjoy themselves, Petitioners rashly venture to present their case and to pray ...