655813-1890-Bill-Protection-of-Women-and-Girls — Page 2

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 21st JUNE, 1890.

A BILL

ENTITLED

Title.

Preamble.

Short title.

Interpreta- tion.

Repeals.

Abduction of

any woman or

girl with

intent, &c.

(Ord. No. 19 of 1889., 4.)

Selling, pledg- ing, purchas- ing, &c. (ibid.)

Participating

in profits of sale, &c. (Ibid.)

Procuration of girls under 16, (Ibul, 5, 5 and see 48 & 49 Vic. e. 69, s. 2.)

Defilement of girl between 12 und 16 years of age. (Comp. 48 & 19 Vic, c. 69, s. 5 and Ord. No. 4 of 1865, s. 45.)

An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the law relating to the protection of Women and Girls.

W

HEREAS it is expedient to amend and consolidate the law relating to the protection of women and girls: Be it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof:-

PRELIMINARY.

1. This Ordinance may be cited as The Women and Girls' Protection Ordinance, 1890.

2. In this Ordinance the following words and expressions shall have or shall include the meanings respectively set against them unless such meanings be repugnant to or in- consistent with the context.

Brothel means a house, room, junk, boat or other place occupied, frequented or used by any two or more women for the purpose of prostitution.

Inmate of a brothel means any woman or girl residing in a brothel or being in a brothel at any time for the purpose of prostitution.

Owner of a brothel means the person for the time being receiving the rent or a consideration for the use of a house, junk, boat or other place whether on his own account or as agent or trustee for any other person or who would receive the same if such place were let or used.

Keeper of a brothel means the person who has the charge or management of the brothel, and in the absence of proof to the contrary a person who appears to be in charge of a brothel or to have authority therein shall be deemed to be the keeper thereof.

3. The Ordinances mentioned in the first column of Schedule A are hereby repealed, but such repeal shall not revive any Ordinance repealed by Ordinance 19 of 1889, nor shall it affect the validity of anything done or suffered before the commencement of this Ordinance, and shall not apply to or in respect of any offence, act or thing committed or done or omitted before the commencement' of this Ordinance, and every such offence, act or thing shall, after and notwithstanding the commencement of this Ordinance, have the same consequence and effect in all respects as if this Ordinance had not been passed.

4. Any person who

PART I.

Offences

(1.) Takes part in bringing into or taking away from the Colony any woman or girl for the purpose of prostitution either by force intimidation or fraud or with intent to sell pledge or let out for hire any such woman or girl for the purpose of prostitution

(2.) Sells pledges or lets out to hire or purchases or takes part in such sale disposal or purchase of any woman or girl for the purpose aforesaid; or (3.) Knowingly derives any profit from the sale dis- posal or purchase of any woman or girl so sold pledged let out to hire or purchased as aforesaid, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and on conviction thereof, shall be liable to the punishment hereinafter provided.

5. Any person who procures or attempts to procure any girl under sixteen years of age to have, either within or without the Colony illicit carnal connexion with any other person, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and on con- viction thereof shall be liable to the punishment hereinafter provided.

6. Any person who unlawfully and carnally knows or attempts to have unlawful carnal knowledge of any girl being of or above the age of twelve years and under the age of sixteen, unless such girl has been duly given in marriage to such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and ou