212605-1934-Supplementary-Bills-read-a-first-time--Pensions-Amendment-Marriage-Amendment-Protection-of-Women-and-Girls-Amendment-Colonial-Bahamas-and-Leeward-Islands-Light-Dues — Page 4

411

A BILL

INTITULED

[No. 12-19.5.34.-2.]

An Ordinance to amend the law relating to the protection of

Women and Girls.

BE it enacted by the Governor of Hong Kong, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:

1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Protection of Short title. Women and Girls Amendment Ordinance, 1934.

2. Section 5 of the Women and Girls Protection Ordin- Repeal of

s. 5 of ance, 1897. is repealed and the following section substituted

Ordinance therefor:

No. 4 of 1897 and substitution of new

therefor.

5. Every person who carnally knows or attempts to have carnal knowledge of any unmarried girl, being of or above section the age of thirteen years and under the age of sixteen years, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour : Provided that, where both parties are Asiatics, a girl shall not be deemed to be unmarried within the meaning of this Ordinance if she is duly married according to the laws and customs of the native country of the girl Provided also, that no prosecution shall be com- menced for an offence under this section more than twelve months after the commission of the offence.

3. Section 6 of the said Ordinance is amended by the Amendment substitution of the word "thirteen" for the word "twelve" in each sub-section thereof.

4. Section 7 of the said Ordinance is amended by the substitution of the word "sixteen" for the word "thirteen" in sub-section (2) thereof.

5. Section 11 of the said Ordinance is amended by the substitution of the word "thirteen" for the word "twelve" in each sub-section thereof, and by the repeal of the proviso contained in the last five lines thereof.

of s. 6 of Ordinance No. 4 of 1897.

Amendment of s. 7 of

Ordinance No. 4 of 1897.

Amendment.

of s. 11 of Ordinance

No. 4 of

1897.

Objects and Reasons.

1. This Bill is introduced by direction of the Secretary of State in order to secure uniformity between local legislation and the law in England.

2. Under section 5 of the Protection of Women and Girls Ordinance, 1897, carnal knowledge actual or attempted of an unmarried girl who is over twelve but under sixteen is a misdemeanour; and by section 6 carnal knowledge by a male of any girl under 12 (whether she is married to him or not) is a felony, and attempted carnal knowledge of such girl a misdemeanour.