568378-1929-Supplementary-Bills-read-a-first-time- — Page 13

972

latter section provides that any mui tsai who wishes to be restored to the custody of her parent or natural guardian, and any mui tsai under eighteen whose parent or natural guardian wishes the girl to be restored to his or her custody, shall be restored to such custody unless the Secretary for Chinese Affairs "shall see some grave objection in the interest of such mui tsai to such restoration". The conflict here is real, and no doubt the later enactment would prevail. The proposed new section 23 makes it quite clear that the later enactment is to prevail, as it lays down that in exercising any right of guardianship conferred on him by Ordinance No. 4 of 1897 the Secretary for Chinese Affairs shall comply with the provisions of section 10 of Ordinance No. 1 of 1923.

15. In the third place, section 32 of Ordinance No. 4 of 1897 does negative the right of the parent, in certain circumstances, in a form which is undesirable in view of the provisions of Ordinance No. 1 of 1923. That section is, however, about to be amended by another Ordinance so as to make it more consonant with the objects and principles of Ordinance No. 1 of 1923.

16. The proposed new section 24 makes any register kept under this Ordinance, and certified extracts, and photographs and finger prints taken for the purpose of any such register, admissible in evidence upon mere production. It also links up the photographs or finger prints with the entries in the registers by means of the serial numbers used.

· 18th May, 1929.

J. H. KEMP,

Attorney General,