CO129-519-3 Trafficking in children 10-8-1929 - 10-8-1929 — Page 9

THE HONG KONG WEEKLY PRESS

September 6, 1929.]

TRAFFICKERS IN

CHILDREN.

THE “HONG KONG” MARKET.

A Police report on August 30 in- dicated that no fewer than 27 women had been arrested recently for alleged trafficking in children. These arrests, it was mentioned, were in addition to male prisoners charg- ed with this type of offence, whose number is increasing.

Apparently a well organised gang of kidnappers had found Hong Kong a ready market for children stolen from the country. Women have played a considerable part in this business by bringing the kid- napped children to Hong Kong, it being recognised that a woman scen with children is less likely to incite suspicion than a man under similar circumstances.

For several weeks, the Police have carried out raids in different parts of the Colony and the net result has been the recovery of a number of children and many arrests. The comb-out, it is understood, is con- tinuing.

It is stated that in view of the difficulty experienced in fixing the places from which the children have been stolen the Police find it hard to get hold of witnesses for pro- ceedings that have been contemplat- ed against some of the arrested persons. Added to this difficulty is the fact that the selling of children by parents is quite a common prac- tice in China, and this further ham- pers the efforts of the police. The only course left to the authorities is to deport the prisoners en masse from the Colony and this will prob- ably be done. The children mean- while will be cared for by local benevolent institutions.

62917.

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Page

Page

Mr.

Mr

Martin 1/19/29

M. Gent Ż

Mr.

Mr. Bottomley.

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Sir E. Harding.

Sir J. Shuckburgh.

Sir G. Grindle.

Sir C. Davis.

Sir S. Wilson.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore.

Lord Lovat.

Mr. Amery.

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