CO129-358 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [10-11] — Page 313

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Enclosure I

39861

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Rest 9 DEC 09

310

ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS

Ilongkong,...

4th November..

1909.

Report on Ordinance No......34.............. of 190 9.

I have examined the accompanying Ordinance, entitled

An Ordinance to amend the Protection of Women and Girls Ordinance

1897, as amended by the Protection of Women and Girls Amendment

Ordinance, 1905.

and I am of opinim that the Ordinance is one which is not contrary to

the Governor's Instructons

The Ordinance provides that where on an indictment for an indecent assault on a girl under the age of seven years the evidence of the girl in respect of whom the offence is charged to have been committe: or the evidence of any other child under seven years of age is tendered, such evidence though the witness be not sworn or affirmed may be admitted where such girl or other child does not, in the opinion of the Court before which the charge is heard, understand the nature of an oath or affirmation and such Court thinks the girl or other child is possessed of sufficient intelligence and understands the duty of speaking the truth, extending in this respect to charges of indecent assault on children the law with regard to the

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