Enclosure 4.
RECO
105
C. O.
513
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE JA 04
Hongkong, 20th November...
190 3.
Report on Ordinance No. 19
of 190 3.
I hare examined the accompanying Ordinance, entitled
An Ordinance to further amend The Magistrates Ordinance,
1890
and I am of opinion that the Ordinance is one which is not contrary to
the Governor's Instructions.
The object of this Ordinance is to check the growth of
a habit of enticing away married women from their husbands re-
-ported as becoming prevalent in the New Territories.
As the civil remedy is in such cases, owing to the cir-
-cumstances surrounding the persons affected, of no practical
value, it is proposed to make it an offence punishable on sun-
-nary conviction to receive or harbour a woman married according
to the law or custom of China who, without reasonable excuse,
leaves the protection of her husband.
This Ordinance declares cruelty or failure properly to