L.
Z
Extract from Hansard Report of 19th June, 1930.
Pages 55 and 56. Juvenile offenders: Mr. Paskin
may be interested to see.
The number of whippings seems rather large
433 out of a total of 1288 boys convicted of all
kinds of offences. Also, as a punishment for
"hawking" I should have thought that whipping was
quite inappropriate.
(Signed) J.V. SHAW. 21.8.30.
Mr. Kotewall's questions on page 55, regarding the
treatment of Juvenile Offenders. The answers disclose
in my opinion a state of affairs which should be taken
up with the Governor with the advice of the Children's
Branch of the Home Office. The answers to question
2 show a condition of affairs which is not now
tolerated at home and which the Governor should be
invited to reform as soon as possible.
As regards the penalty of whipping which
is inflicted on boys under 16 years old for such
offences as hawking without a licence (i.e. begging)
I agree with Mr. Shaw: I ventured to criticise
the practice of the magistrates in this sort of case
when we had the flogging returns.
The root of the question is however to get
in Hong Kong a proper appreciation of the modern
view of the way Juvenile Offenders should be treated
in the matter of Court procedure. If we can effect
a reform there, the rest would probably be put right
as a result.
?Register separately the Q and A. and consult
the Home Office as to the advice to be given to the
Governor subject to the observations of G.D.
(Signed)
G.E.J. GENT.
26/8.
.