1890_PROTECTION_OF_YOUNG_GIRLS_ORDINANCE — Page 1

ORDINANCE No. 9 or 1887.

Protection of young Girls.

No. 9 of 1887.

An Ordinance for the better protection of young Girls.

[13th April, 1887.]

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 satisfactorily 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 imprisoned 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 summon before him any person who he believes can give information respect- ing 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 bard labour for any period not exceeding three months.

may

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2105

[See Ord. No. 19 of 1889, and No. 11 of 1890.J

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.

husband or wife of such

custodian to be competent witnesses.

with 4. If the said custodian shall attend, the Registrar General 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 Custodian or solicitor and such custodian or any husband or wife of such custodian shall be a com petent but not a compellable witness at every hearing before the said Registrar General 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 enforced by the Supreme Court in the usual manner.

or in