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from as many of the persons
connected with the matter as could
be found; the child was medically
examined for signs of ill-treatment
by a Government Medical Officer, with
negative results, and all this evidence
was then referred for advice as to the
prospects of successful prosecution to
an officer of one of the legal depart-
ments, who gave it as his opinion that
on the evidence submitted there was
no hope of a conviction for assault.
The matter was then referred to the
Governor and after he had consulted the
Attorney General and further statements
had been taken, he directed the
Secretary for Chinese Affairs to
institute a prosecution for common
assault. But in the meantime the
child's mother had returned to her
home in the interior of China taking
the child with her, and it was thus
impossible to proceed with the
prosecution