683461-1880-Domestic-Servitude-in-Hongkong- — Page 18

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 4тu FEBRUARY, 1880.

I concluded my arguments by an epitome of most of the propositions I desired to affirm which are comprised in eight propositions. To these I refer as the substance of most of my very long observations.

What I said appears in the China Mail, and Daily Press, but I think the latter on the whole is

more exact.

The matters discussed are important. I have expressed my views on them with the earnestness they excited in my mind.

..

I should be going beyond my proper province to say more than that I am at the service of His į Excellency the Governor as to the serious questions which may arise.

The Honourable W. II. MARSH,

Sc.,

Colonial Secretary,

Sc.

I have, &c.,

(Signed,)

JOHN SMALE, Chief Justice.

MINUTE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

To the Acting Attorney-General, for his observations.

MINUTE BY THE Acting Attorney GENERAL.

Read.

J. R.

J. POPE HENNESSY.

9th October, 1879.

No. 1217.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO CHIEF JUSTICE.

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 9th October, 1879.

SIR,-I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Honour's letter of the 8th instant, calling His Excellency's attention to the observations Your Honour made in sentencing certain prisoners convicted of kidnapping_and_detaining children for sale at the recent Sessions, and I am to convey to Your Honour His Excellency's best thanks for placing your great experience and knowledge at the Governor's service in this matter.

I have, &c.,

(Signed,)

W. II. MARSHI,

Colonial Secretary.

The Honourable Sir JOIN SMALE,

Chief Justice,

fc.,

fc.

The Supreme Court, HONGKONG, 20th October, 1879.

SIR, I return herewith C. S. O. No. 2,666, being Letter from the Captain Superintendent of Police to the Colonial Secretary recommending rewards of $10 to Inspector SWANSTON and Police Constable CAMPBELL, respectively, on the arrest and conviction of certain kidnappers which His Excel- lency the Governor has been pleased to refer to me.

Although I do not know whether these two Police Officers come within the precise conditions of the proclamation, I think it desirable to sustain recommendations by the Head of the Police. The conduct of the Police officers was good, and the reward is small, I therefore concur in the recommen-

dation.

I should be obliged by a copy of the Proclamation for reference.

I avail myself of the opportunity on recurring to this subject of informing His Excellency the Governor directly that I daily feel more reason to believe that the practice of kidnapping for purposes other than the coolie trafic has of late been alarmingly on the increase in this Colony. His Excellency will have noted the cases already tried in the Police and Supreme Courts. I may now add that the present sessions for October furnish two cases of the kind for trial before mo and incline me to think that "Brokers of mankind," as a girl eleven years of uge designates them, form among the various classes of brokers in this Colony a well known special class, though, like Gaming House Keepers, the Law ignores them. I believe that mothers have even kept their daughters from going to school for fear of their being kidnapped.

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