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or run away from their homes and are then picked up by the kidnappers.
In the second place it was necessary under the former law for the
prosecution to prove that the accused knew that the girl had been
taken away from her parents or guardians against the will of the pa-
rents or guardians, This is generally very difficult to prove, as the girl is generally either an untelligent or an unwilling witness, and the facts relating to her leaving her home are often known to no
one in the Colony except to herself and to the accused.
Section 3 of the Ordinance alters the law on these two points. It makes it an offence to harbour an unmarried girl who has left her
parents or guadians without their consent, as well as to harbour an unmarried girl who has been taken out of the possession of her parents or guardians, It also throws on the accused, once it is proved that he knowingly harboured the girl, the onus of proving that he did not know that consent of the parents or guardians had not been obtained to her departure.
The age has also been raised in the case of this offence from 18
years to 21 years.
The se alterations in the law met with the unaninous and enthusi-
astic approval of the members of the District Watchmen, Committee, and they seem to make the law more suitable to the Chinese family or- ganisation,
The age limit in paragraph (a) of sub-section (1) of section 4 of the principal Ordinance has also been raised to 21 years.
Advantage has been taken of the opportunity of transferring the former sub-section (2) of section 18 of the principal Ordinance te section 19, which seems a more appropriate place for it.
In my opinion this is an Ordinace to which His Excellency the Governor may properly assent in the name of His Majesty and on His behalf.
Attorney General,
5th April, 1917.