CO129-246 - Acting Governor Fleming - 1890 [8-9] — Page 203

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed
Series Prev Next

legislation : they only want a clear declaration that person who take concubines who are under 16 years of age shall not thereby become law breakers: they do not desire to have the taking of concubines legalized nor to have concubines ranking as wives. Moreover the intention of the 6th section is not to forbid Chinese taking concubines but only to enforce the English age of 16. When Chinese take a wife, they do not enquire her age, it is only when they take a concubine they enquire the age of a prospective concubine.

They pray Your Lordship to look attentively into the rights and wrongs of it, for it is to Your Lordship that they look upon with the utmost expectation.

20th July, 1890.

Instead of causing embarrassment to innocent people and bringing into existence a troublesome law, would it not be better to countenance their customs?

Translated by ...

Here follow 43 Signatures and 391 Shop signs.

(Signed) J. Sercombe Smith.

Having a care for the prosperity of peacefully Hongkong where men enjoy themselves, Petitioners rashly venture to present their case and to pray ...

Edit History

2026-05-26 09:32:20 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
Live
View comparison
AI Proofread
legislation : they only want a clear declaration that person who take concubines who are under 16 years of age shall not thereby become law breakers: they do not desire to have the taking of concubines legalized nor to have concubines ranking as wives. Moreover the intention of the 6th section is not to forbid Chinese taking concubines but only to enforce the English age of 16. When Chinese take a wife, they do not enquire her age, it is only when they take a concubine they enquire the age of a prospective concubine. They pray Your Lordship to look attentively into the rights and wrongs of it, for it is to Your Lordship that they look upon with the utmost expectation. 20th July, 1890. Instead of causing embarrassment to innocent people and bringing into existence a troublesome law, would it not be better to countenance their customs? Translated by ... Here follow 43 Signatures and 391 Shop signs. (Signed) J. Sercombe Smith. Having a care for the prosperity of peacefully Hongkong where men enjoy themselves, Petitioners rashly venture to present their case and to pray ...
Baseline (Original)
legislation : they only want a cicar declaration that person who take ca cubines who are under 16. years of ag age shall not thereby become law breakers: they do not desire to have the taking of concubines legalized nor to have concubines ranking pray Your Lordship to look attentively into the 201 rights •hts and/ wrongs of it, for it is to Your Lordship that they look upon the tiptoe of expectation. 20 214 July, 1890. wives. Moreover the uitention of the 6th section is not to forbid Chinese taking concubines but only to enforce the English age of 16. When Chinese take a wife, they do not enquire. the her age, it is only concubine they enquire. age of a Instead of causing cubarrassment to innocent people and bringing into existence a trablesome law, would it not be better to countenance their customs? Translated by Here follow 43 Signatures and 391 Shop signs. (Signed) J. Sercombe Smith. Having a care for the prosperity of peacefully Hongkong where men enjoy themselves, Petitioners rashly venture to present their case and to pray
2026-05-26 09:32:20 · Baseline
View content

legislation : they only want a cicar

declaration that person who take

ca cubines who are under 16.

years of ag

age shall not thereby become law breakers: they do not desire to have the taking of concubines legalized

nor to have concubines

ranking

pray Your Lordship to look

attentively into the

201

rights

•hts and/

wrongs of it, for it is to Your

Lordship that

they

look upon the

tiptoe of expectation.

20

214 July, 1890.

wives. Moreover the uitention of the 6th section is not to forbid Chinese taking concubines but only to enforce the English age of 16. When Chinese

take a wife, they

do not enquire.

the

her

age,

it is

only

concubine they enquire.

age of

a

Instead of causing

cubarrassment to innocent people and bringing into existence a

trablesome law, would it not be

better to countenance their customs?

Translated by

Here follow 43 Signatures

and 391 Shop signs.

(Signed) J. Sercombe Smith.

Having

a

care for

the

prosperity of peacefully

Hongkong where men

enjoy themselves, Petitioners rashly

venture to present their case and to

pray

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.