670144-1885-Bill-read--Child-Adoption-and-Domestic-Service- — Page 1

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 25ти APRIL, 1885.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION. —No. 169.

355

The following Bill, which was read a first time at a Meeting of the Legislative Council held this day, is published for general information.

Council Chamber, Hongkong, 22nd April, 1885.

A BILL

ENTITLED

An Ordinance for the prevention of abuses connected with Child Adoption and Domestic Service.

W

HEREAS it is expedient to make further provision for the prevention of adopted female children and female servants from being brought up in the Colony for the purpose of prostitution: Be it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-

1. It shall be lawful for the Registrar General, as Pro- tector of Chinesc, to summon before him any person whom he reasonably suspects of having in his custody any adopted daughter, or female servant, between the age of six and sixteen inclusive, with the view of disposing of her as a prostitute; and it shall also be lawful for the Registrar General, in his discretion and after due inquiry, to call on any such person who has the custody of any such female child to give reasonable security that such child shall not be sold, pawned, or otherwise disposed of for any immoral purpose, and that the absence of such child from the Colony shall be duly accounted for.

2. For the better carrying out of the preceding section, it shall be lawful for the Registrar General to require the production before him of any female child under adoption or domestic service; and also to summon any person who can give information as to the treatment of such child by her adopted parents or master, under a penalty not exceed- ing two hundred dollars.

3. It shall be lawful for the Registrar General, in the interests of any female child, to make a written application to a Judge in Chambers for a writ of Habeas Corpus, with the view of taking away such female child from any person who has no legal claim to her custody, and whose retention of her is prejudicial to the child's interest and liberty.

4. It shall be lawful for any person considering himself aggrieved or affected by any action of the Registrar General under this Ordinance to appeal in a summary way to a Judge in Chambers against any decision which the Regis- trar General nay give under this Ordinance; and the Judge may confirm the decision of the Registrar General, or may order in writing the same to be annulled.

5. This Ordinance shall come into operation on a day to be hereafter proclaimed by the Governor.

ARATHOON SETH, Clerk of Councils.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 167.

His Excellency the Governor directs it to be notified for general information that it has been officially announced, through the Consul of France at Hongkong, that Vice-Admiral COURBET, Commanding the French Naval Forces, has raised the blockade of the Coast and Ports of Formosa.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 20th April, 1885.

W. H. MARSH,

Colonial Secretary.