635791-1897-Bills-read--Vaccination-Government-Latrine-Flogging-Regulation-of-Chinese-Amendment--Stowaways-Protection-of-Women-and-Girls — Page 10

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 8TH MAY, 1897.

Powers of Registrar General.

(Ordinance 11

PART II.

POWERS OF REGISTRAR GENERAL.

25. Whenever the Registrar General has reason to believe----

(1.) That any woman or girl has been brought into the of 1890, s. 14.) Colony either after having been purchased or by force, intimidation, fraud, mis-representation or any false pre- tence,-

Removal of

(a.) for immoral purposes, or

(4.) for purposes of emigration; or

(2.) That any woman or girl has been purchased in the Colony with a view of being trained or disposed of as a prostitute, or is being detained against her will-

(a.) for immoral purposes, or

(b.) for purposes of emigration; or

(3.) That in any case within sub-section 1 or 2 any woman or girl, from fear, ignorance, or any other cause is unwilling or unable to disclose the true circumstances of the case;

he may inquire into the case, and may require any person in whose custody or under whose control she appears to be to furnish a photograph of such woman or girl and security in a reasonable amount, to the satisfaction of the Registrar Geucral, that such woman or girl shall not leave the Colony without the previons consent in writing of the Registrar General, that she shall not be trained or disposed of as a prostitute or for immoral purposes, and that she shall be produced before the Registrar General whenever be so requires.

28. (1.) In default of such photograph and security woman or girl being furnished, the Registrar General may, by warrant to place of

under his hand, order that such woman or girl be removed safety in default of to a place of safety where she shall remain until she can be photograph returned to the place whence she was brought or other and security. proper provision can be made for the protection of her (Ibid, s. 15.) interests and liberty.

Order for

removal to place of refuge.

(Ibid, s. 16.)

Rules for

(2.) The security to be furnished under this section shall be a personal hond, with one or more sureties in the form specified in the first Schedule to this Ordinance, or in such other form as is for the time being prescribed by the Governor in Council.

27. (1.) The Registrar General, if after due inquiry he is satisfied that any girl is being used for immoral purposes or is being trained for such purposes and that such girl is under the age of sixteen years, may by warrant under his hand and seal order such girl to be removed to a place of refuge where she shall be detained until further order or until she attains the age of nineteen years or marries or is adopted, whichever event first happens.

(2.) A girl found living in or frequenting a brothel shali be deemed to be a girl who is being trained for immoral purposes.

28. (1.) Every woman or girl residing in such place of women and refuge as is referred to in the last preceding section shall be girls in refuge. subject to such rules and regulations as may be made by the (Ibid, s. 18.) Governor iu Council, and every woman or girl who, contrary to such rules and regulations, leaves any such place of refuge in which she is residing may be arrested and taken back to such place by any Police Officer or by any Officer appointed under this Ordinance and specially authorized by the Re- gistrar General in writing in that behalf.

Penalty for inducing or assisting

woman or

girl to leave refuge.

woman or

(2.) Every person who induces or assists any woman or girl so detained as aforesaid to leave, contrary to such rules and regulations as aforesaid, the place of refuge in which she is residing, or knowingly harbours any such woman or girl shall, upon conviction before a Magistrate, be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars or to imprisonment with or without hard labour for any term not exceeding three months.

Penalty for (3.) Every person who without just cause, the onus communicat- of proving which shall lie upon him, communicates or ing etc. with attempts to communicate with any woman or girl so de- tained as aforesaid or induces or attempts to induce such girl.

woman or girl to break such rules or regulations or any of them, shall be liable to the punishment in the last preceding sub-section mentioned.

Recovery of

sums due on promise or agreement already

29. In any suit which may hereafter be brought for the recovery of any sum due on any promise or agreement which before the 13th April, 1887, (being the date of the com- mencement of Ordinance No. 9 of 1887) has been entered entered into. into before the Registrar General with respect to the custody, (Ibid, s. 19.) maintenance or giving in marriage of any female child, it