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Mr. Caldwell said this statement was repeated by Sir John Bowring in his published Despatch to the Secretary of State, dated 9th August, 1858, and printed in Blue
Book at page 42. Sir John Bowring said:—
"With one or two exceptions I have been generally satisfied with Mr. May's services until within a very recent period. One of these exceptions was his ownership of a very notorious nest of Brothels very near the Police Station, and which he very unwillingly got rid of after considerable pressure from the Government."
Mr. May stated that this matter had been the subject of official correspondence and in- quiry, to which he begged to refer. It would there be seen that he and another Officer of the Government had bought a number of houses from another Govern- ment Official, some of which had before been used as Brothels, and immediately after obtaining possession they gave notice to the tenants to quit. There was great difficulty in getting tenants out at that time, owing to the influx of a vast number of persons, who had been compelled to leave Canton in consequence of the troubles there. He had, however, by considerable exertion succeeded in removing all these objectionable tenants within four months from the date of the purchase, and he re- ported that fact to the Government.
The following correspondence above referred to by Mr. May was then read:-
"No. 398."
"COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, VICTORIA, HONGKONG, 18th July, 1855.”
"SIR,-The attention of the Governor has been called from so many quarters to statements seriously affecting the position and duties of the Chief of the Police that His Excellency feels it incumbent on him to request you to answer the following inquiries :-
"Is it true that certain disorderly houses having the common notoriety of Brothels have been purchased by you, and are at this time your property--the rents being paid to yourself?
"Is it true that on your taking possession notice was given to the Tenants to quit, but that on these consenting to pay a higher rent they have been allowed to continue in occupation?—I have, &c.
CHARLES MAY, Esq.," Superintendent of Police."
"No. 26."
"W. T. MERCER,"
"Colonial Secretary.”
"POLICE DEPARTMENT, HONGKONG, 19th July, 1855." "SIR,I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter No. 398, dated 18th instant, to the effect that the Governor's attention having been called to statements seriously affecting the position and duties of the Chief of the Police His Excellency deemed it incumbent upon him to request answer to the follow- ing queries:-
•
"Is it true that certain disorderly houses-having the common notoriety of Brothels have been purchased by you and are at this time your property, the 'rents being paid to yourself?'
"Is it true that on your taking possession notice was given to the tenants 'to quit, but on these consenting to pay a higher rent they have been allowed to 'continue in occupation?'
"In answer to the first query, I beg to state that on the 13th May last I and Mr. Masson (temporarily attached to Supreme Court) jointly purchased from Mr. Trotter (the Chief Justice's late clerk) Inland lots Nos. 1 and 129, having twenty four houses erected thereon; the property was transferred to us on the
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8th of June ultimo, (see memorial of transfer in land office). It was known to the purchasers that for the preceding five years several of the houses situated on Lyndhurst Terrace had been occupied as brothels, and it was determined and expressed openly that our intention was to eject such tenants, in order to effect this the purchasers retained the property in their own hands refusing to grant a lease of the entire property and received the rents by the hands of a collector. "In answer to the second query I respectfully state, that in order to obtain a knowledge of the class of persons tenanting the property, I and Mr. Masson (with an interpreter) visited all the houses, and from appearances and enquiries were led to give warning to quit to the occupants of six, representing distinctly to them that as Government Officers we did not consider it seemly to own houses occupied as brothels. In order, as we conceived, to compel a removal by the 13th instant, written notices in Chinese were served, calling upon those tenants to vacate their houses or pay an increased rental of nearly fifty per cent.
We were deceived in our arrangements as, owing to the circumstances that no houses were--or arc-to be let, the inmates positively refused to remove, promising in two or three instances that they would go immediately they found a vacant house, and in other cases that their houses were no longer brothels. On the 14th instant a verbal warning was given by the rent collector that if they presist- ed in remaining other steps would be taken to enforce their removal.
"I declare, on my honor, that it is the intention of Mr. Masson and my- self to remove as speedily as possible this obnoxious class of tenant from our property.
"I desire to point out to His Excellency the Governor that the mode of ejecting the tenants by increasing the rent was the most direct and feasible plan, as no suimary power exists that we could avail of to enforce removal. Clause
5, Section 3, Ordinance 14 of 1845, directs that no house shall be kept for the resort of prostitutes to the annoyance of a near resident; no such complainant can be found, as although many talk loudly of such nuisances, none will come forward to aid in their suppression. This has been the difficulty with regard to the property in question for the past five years, and it will be perceived on reference to a paper submitted by me a few months back, making suggestions on the fram- ing of a new Police Ordinance, that I have asked for additional power to be given to Supreintendent of Police to enforce removal of brothels.
"As a proof of my feeling on the subject, I crave liberty to refer to the fact, that I have owned Chinese houses the previous seven years and have never permitted one of them to be occupied as a brothel, as although leasing the houses I inserted a clause in the lease which enables me to guard against such intru-
sion.
"In conclusion I have to express my thanks to Ilis Excellency for so prompt- ly giving me opportunity to make known to him the circumstances of the case which I trust will effectually remove from his mind all impressions injurious to my interests. I have the honor to be. Sir, your most obedient servant,
"The Honorable W. T. MERCER, Esq.,"
“C., &c.,
“No. 402."
fc."
"C. MAY," "Superintendent of Police."
"COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, VICTORIA, HONGKONG, 19th July, 1855."
"SIR, I have laid before His Excellency the Governor your letter of this day's date.
"The frankness with which you have replied to the questions submitted to you is satisfactory to His Excellency.
"It
appears from your
letter that with the full knowledge of the difficulty of ejecting Tenants from the occupation of disorderly houses,-(which you pro-
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