Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 892

[LXXIX]

taking repressive measures against kidnappers, the latter know well that they must be careful as to their movements, and consequently this great evil became well nigh extinguished.

That, however, quite lately the minds of some people have become perverted in deceit, pretending to obey the law and secretly disobeying it, pursuing a dangerous secret game, and moving about between east and west, the worst being go-betweens and old women who have houses for the detention of kidnapped people, and, as it may be, inveigle virtuous women or girls to come to Hongkong, at first deceiving them by the promise of finding them employment (as domestic servants), and then proceeding to compel them by force to become prostitutes, or exporting them to a foreign port, or distribute them by sale over the different ports of China, boys being sold to become adopted children, girls being sold to be trained for prostitution, it being altogether impossible to explain in detail all their varied plans of wickedness.

That your Petitioners are of opinion that such wicked people are to be found belonging to any of the (neighbouring) districts, but in our district of Tung-kún such cases of kidnapping are comparatively more frequent, and all the merchants of Hong- kong, without exception, are expressing their annoyance.

That, therefore, a meeting for the discussion of the matter has been held, and it is proposed to raise subscriptions, which may either be paid into the Colonial Treasury or entrusted to some house of business, to facilitate general publication of offers of reward, and the employment of special detectives with a view to eventually stamp out this crime of kidnapping, and to make it impossible for the kidnappers to carry on their tricks.

That, moreover, we, natives of Tung-kún, can get comparatively more reliable information regarding Tung-kún kidnappers, leaving no room for miscarriage of justice.

That this, however, being a matter of repressing the dishonest and protecting the honest, may be an interference with official regulations, wherefore your Petitioners dare not proceed in the matter without a warrant from your Excellency (authorising them to do so), and your Petitioners are thus constrained to present this present petition conjointly, humbly praying that your Excellency may be pleased to yield to the wishes of the people, and issue a warrant to authorise your Petitioners at all times to institute inquiries, and, if they meet with kidnappers, immediately to request the co-operation of the police in arresting them and forwarding them to the proper tribunal to be tried and severely dealt with, those who succeed in arresting kidnappers receiving a reward, and the kidnapped persons being supplied with means to return to their homes, whereby honest people will be saved from ruin, and kidnappers will be unable to carry out their schemes at random; thus also our native city will be benefited, and Hongkong will derive equal advantage.

And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

Appended are five regulations which are respectfully submitted to His Excellency. In the fourth year of Kwangsui, 1878.

[Here follow the Stamps of 62 different Shops.]

Hongkong, 9th November 1878.

Translated by E. J. EITEL.

Enclosure in Petition of Messrs. Lò Lai-p'ing, Shi Shang-kái, Fung Ming-shán, Tsé-Tat-shing, and others.

1. Kidnapping is a crime which is to be found everywhere, but there is no place where it is more rife than Hongkong, nor is there a time when it developed so rapidly as of late, the reason being that there have been floods and drought alternating for some