THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 12TH MARCH, 1887.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION--No. 90.
163
The following Bill, which will be read a third time at the next Meeting of the Legislative Council, is published for general information.
Council Chamber, Hongkong, 12th March, 1887.
ARATHOON SETH, Clerk of Councils.
A BILL
ENTITLED
An Ordinance for the better protection of
WHE
young Girls.
HEREAS it is expedient to prevent adopted female children and other young girls from being brought up in the Colony for the purpose of prostitution either here or elsewhere: Be it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:--
1. Whenever the Registrar General shall have reason to believe that any female child under the age of sixteen years has been purchased and brought into the Colony or that any female child between the ages of six and sixteen years is in the custody or under the control of any person in the Colony with the view of being trained or disposed of as a prostitute either in the Colony or out of the Colony, it shall be lawful for the Registrar General to summon before him such Custodian requiring at the same time the production of the said child, and to make full inquiry into the said matter.
2. If any person who has received such notice shall not appear, and produce the said child, and shall not satis- factorily account for such default he shall be liable on conviction before a Magistrate to a penalty not exceeding five hundred dollars, and in default of payment to be im- prisoned with or without hard labour for any period not exceeding six months.
3. It shall be lawful for the Registrar General by notice in writing under his hand, to summor before him any person who he believes can give information respecting any such female child, or its treatment by its adopted parents, custodian or employer, and any person disobeying such notice, and not giving satisfactory reason for such default shall be liable on conviction before a Magistrate to a penalty not exceeding two hundred dollars or in default thereof to imprisonment with or without hard labour for any period not exceeding three months.
4. If the said Custodian shall attend, the Registrar General may associate with him two or more Justices of the Peace, or such other persons as may from time to time be designated by the Governor, and he shall thereupon proceed to inquire into the matter, and shall hear and examine upon oath any person capable of giving evidence in such matter. At such inquiry the said Custodian may be assisted by Counsel or Solicitor and such Custodian or any husband or wife of such Custodian shall be a competent but not a compellable witness at every hearing before the said Registrar General or in any subsequent inquiry. If after due inquiry the Registrar General shall be satisfied that any offence against the provisions of Ordinance No. 2 of 1875 has been committed by the said Custodian he shall commit him for trial to the Supreme Court. In such case it may be lawful for the Registrar General to admit the said Custodian to bail and in case of his non-appearance on his trial recognizance of bail may be enforced by the Supreme Court in the usual manner.
If the said Registrar General is satisfied that the said child is being trained as a prostitute or that it is the in- tention of the said Custodian thereof to dispose of the said child as a prostitute or that it has been purchased for the purposes of emigration and if the said Custodian shall consent that the matter be dealt with by the Registrar General it shall be lawful for the Registrar General to make an order for the proper custody of the said child, or if he
Preamble.
Registrar General may
summon Custodian of any female child between 6 and 16 years of age.
Penalty for
not appearing and producing child.
Registrar
General may summon any person who can give information,
Registrar
General may Associate with him two or more Justices of the Peace or such other persons.
Custodian or husband or wife of such Custodian to be competent witnesses.
Registrar
General maY make an order for the custody of the child under certain circumstanI OGS.
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