peny
com
The Under-Secretary of State.
Colonial Office.
5. Sydney Buildings.
Bath. Somerset.
September 5th, 1929.
47.62
Dear Sir,
With reference to the Sale of a Child reported in the
"South China Morning Post"of March 29th, 1929, the name of the
child being Chung Kei, may I ask you to kindly inform me how long
a period of time elapsed between the first report of cruelty to
this child made at the Office of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs
and the medical examination for the marks of cruelty ?
Also will you kindly tell me what steps, if any, the
Governor of Hong Kong took to prosecute for the re-sale of this
child in a British possession ?
I have received the astounding news that on the 23rd
April, 1929, the Governor issued instructions that a prosecution
is to be attempted in all similar cases, where any witnesses at
all are available, whether or not there is any prospect of securing
a conviction, provided that the charge is not obviously malicious
or untrue. I understand that he hopes that the publicity so ob
tained may act as a deterrent. I shall be glad to know whether
the Home Government concur in this extraordinary proposal which
appears very like using the law for purposes of propaganda, and fur
her, as liable to bring the law into contempt.
yours truly
(Mrs) CBL. Hoslewood
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