Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 896

[ LXXXIII]

N. 3.

The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir J. Pope Hennessy, K.C.M.G.

SIR,

DOWNING STREET, 20th May 1880.

1. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch of the 23rd of January, and enclosures, including the extrajudicial declaration of Chief Justice Sir JOHN SMALE as to "Slavery in Hongkong."

2. The points presenting themselves for consideration in these papers are—

a. kidnapping,

***

*

*

*

*

*

4. With regard to kidnapping, the provisions of the local law (Ordinances 4 of 1865, and 2 of 1875) ought to be sufficiently stringent, but it appears that the practice being on the increase certain Chinese gentlemen in November 1878 asked permission to form themselves into an association for its prevention, and that a committee appointed by you to inquire into the subject suggested that the petitioners should form themselves into a company for the purpose under the "Companies Ordinance 1865." It does not appear that anything further has been done in the matter, and I regret that so much valuable time has been lost. I therefore request that you will at once thank these Chinese gentlemen for their offers of assistance in repressing this form of crime, and that you will allow them to form themselves into an association of whatever kind they desire. But, in order to obtain official recognition, its rules and organisation should be made known to and approved by the Colonial Government. You will, of course, give them such assistance as you may find practicable, and especially you will instruct the police to co-operate with them in bringing to justice all offenders whom they may succeed in tracing. If the association as at first organised should be found insufficient it will be time then to consider what other steps should be taken.

*

*

*

**

No. 6.

*

*

*

Governor Sir J. Pope Hennessy, K.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley.

MY LORD,

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 23rd June 1880.

In the Despatch of the 20th ultimo, relating to kidnapping and similar offences affecting the freedom of Chinese women and children, your Lordship desires me to thank the Chinese gentlemen of the Colony who offered their essistance to the Govern- ment, and wished to form a Society for checking such crimes; and you instruct me to allow them to form themselves into a Society or Association, of whatever kind they desire, with that object, subject to the approval of the Colonial Government.

2. Your Lordship's decision on this point will, I have no doubt, be received with great satisfaction by the whole community, as it has been by myself and my advisers. The Chinese gentlemen in question have already expressed much gratification at finding their views and labours appreciated by Her Majesty's Government.

3. In connection, however, with the formation of such a Society, a slight misconcep- tion has arisen, for which I am probably to blame. Your Lordship says, in the Despatch of the 20th of May 1880, "It does not appear that anything further has been