SUPPLEMENT TO THE "HONGKONG TELEGRAPH."
no
HONGKONG, THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 1881.
simply state what the condition of the Colony was a few years ago when flogging-public flogging--at the Harbour Master's Office was a daily occurrence, and compare it with the present state of affairs, when public flogging has become a thing of the past, and flogging in privato has been reduced to a minimum; so that the public may be enabled to see the results, the actual undoubted results which speak for themselves, of a policy which has been persistently and most unfairly vilified and con- demned by the local press, but which nevertheless has much to commend it to public approbation.
NEWS for the ENGLISH MAIL. opinion which was held as to his ment supervision, and such places tion than if they were designated by personal culpability in indirectly should never have been made sources any other title, or belonged to any As Mr. James Russell, the prescat causing the death of the two women, of revenue. The employment of other branch of the service. It is to Acting Paisne Judge, will, on the as for the purpose of bringing what Inspectors and Interpreters had fre- be presumed that the officers of the appointment of a successor to Sir was consideral the disgraceful man- quently been the source of abuse and Medical department are as passing John Smate as Chief Justice of this ner in which the laws affecting pros- corruption, as the work they have to honest as other servants of the Gov colony, step into his proper position titutes and prostitution were carried perform is so demoralising; and some-ernment or they would hardly be of Registrar General, it may not out by the Registrar-General's De-body is highly praised for not per- retained in the public service; and be out of place to briefly refer partment before the direct notice of mitting the general body of the police because the Inspectors of Police, to one or two matters of im- the Government and the general pub- to assist in carrying out the Brothel doubtless out of an esprit de corps
Laws. portance, which will doubt lic; and but for the suggestion of the
Medical examinations of which is much to be commended, occupy. Mr. Russell's attention, as third juror, who differed with his Chinese women are not approved of, profer their own especial duties in soon as he assumes the reins of office. colleagues, to call in the Coroner to as such examinations wound the fine the detection of the various other We have heard a great deal since assist the jury in what promised to susceptibilities of these ladies, and branches of crime to the peculiar and Mr. Cecil Smith left Hongkong, be a rather awkward dilemma, a expose them to the ridicule and con- disagreeable details attached to the about the emasculation of the Regis- verdict of manslaughter would most tempt of their countrymen. The business of a brothel inspector, we trar General's Department, and the certainly have been returned. Even- quasi-official recognition of houses of are at a loss to discover why these abject condition into which it has tually death by misadventure" was ill fame implied by granting them particular men, should be spoken of
What was the condition of Hong- been brought, by what our local decided on, but to this finding, the licenses is considered a very objec- with such studied disparagement. kong some eight or ten years ago contemporaries, and a few parasitical jury added a special clause in the tionable system, as it imposes res- Again the reference to the Chinese when all those so-called repressive correspondents who are adepts at following terms:-"The jury afore-ponsibilities on the Government women objecting to the medical offi-
measures were in full swing? Crimes vilifying and backbiting under the said are further of opinion that In- which it cannot adequately fulfil. As cer's examination on the score of de-of a serious character were rampant safe protection of editorial interests, spector Lec, exceeded his powers by all these conclusions are unfavorable licacy, and because it exposes. them
throughout the Colony, and after and an alphabetical nom de plume, entering the house No. 42, Peel- to the existing brothel system, the to ridicule and contempt, is rather a
dark it was absolutely dangerous to term Governor Hennessy's arbitrary strect, without a warrant or any di- Commissioners' personal convictions refreshing piece of innocence to come walk abroad unarmed. As we have interference with departmental de-reet authority from the Registrar would have led them to recommend from an old lawyer like Mr. Hayllar. already stated, the flogging post daily tails, but as we are in ignorance of
its entire abolition and the repeal of It has been proved by practical de witnessed scenes, enacted under the the rights and privileges which have
the Ordinance; however as the high monstration that the licensing of protecting arm of the law, which for been curtailed, we are not prepared
Naval and Military authorities, to
houses of ill-fame in this colony is an cruel brutality vied with the horrible at this stage either to accuse or
whom the papers were submitted, absolute necessity, and it behaves degradations of the worst days of defend His Excellency for any action
arrived at conclusions which did not the Government to initiate some
Negro slavery and Russian serfdom. he may have taken in the matter.
coincide with those of Mr. T. C. system which will enable it to ade-
What is the condition of Hong- We propose however to deal with a
Hayllar and Dr. Eitel, the recommen- quately undertake the responsibilities certain branch of our social system,
kong now, when the enlightened dation was simply limited to the attached to this duty. which used to form one of the
extent that all prosecutions against What has been the practical re-principles of advanced statesmanship principal duties of the Registrar Gen-
the keepers and inmates of unlicen-sult of the immense amount of labor have been brought to bear upon eral and his subordinates, and which
sed brothers be abandoned. It was gone through by this eclebrated what was a disgrace to our modern has occupied our attention for years
further recommended that licenses Commission! Has anything becn civilisation? Of petty crimes we have past.
should be strictly limited to houses done? The Ordinances have not been still plenty, and always will have, but offences of a serious character are of for the accomodation of foreigners, repealed, and we believe that we are and that prosecutions against women correct in stating that the business rare occurrence, and even at night- for offences, which need not be of the Registrar-General's depart-time our streets and roads are per- detailed, should be abandoned al- ment is managed exactly as it was fectly safe; far safer in fact than the together.
before, with the single exception that streets of London. On the 27th March, 1879, Mr. informers are no longer employed, In the face of these facts, which Keswick forwarded a note in which and prosecutions of koopers of un- can be proved on reference to our he entirely disagreed with the opi- licensed houses have ceased. This criminal statistics, or by application nious of his brother Commissioners, is surely a paltry return for such an to any of the principal officers of our excepting in regard to abuses of a expenditure of money, time, ink, and police, what inferences must be serious character, which he admitted, paper, indicated in the publication of drawn? Is it not patent to every had undoubtedly occurred; but that expensive and expansive volume one who is willing to see straight, which, he sensibly remarked, seemed which details the manifold labours that the improved organisation of inevitable in working Acts which of the Commission! A walk through our police force, and the departure required the services of the lowest our streets at night time will soon from the disgraceful brutalities of classes of Europeans and natives. convince unbelievers that unlicensed the past, to a rational and well de- Mr. Keswick made no recommenda- houses have increased fifty fold during visod system of punishments, inau tions, apparently contented to allow the past two years, with the inevit-gurated by Governor Hennessy, has matters to remain in stata quo, look-able results of increasing infection, established peace and good order ing upon the defects of the Ordin- and filling our streets with the very where lawlessness reigned supreme?
TC-
General or Superintendent of Police, and would strongly recommend that the whole system of obtaining convictions against keepers of un- licensed brothels be thoroughly vised, as the present practice is, in their opinion, both illegal and im- moral." The representations of the gentlemen forming the jury, on- bodied in their special finding, were on the 30th October, forwarded by the Coroner to Mr. Cecil C. Smith, who was at that time Acting Colo nial Secretary, with the result that on the 12th November, His Excel- lency the Governor appointed a Commission, consisting of the Hon. W. Keswick, Mr. T. C. Hayllar, Q.C., and Dr. E. J. Eitel, for the purpose of instituting and prosecuting all needful or proper enquiries in that behalf, and to take evidence in the premises, and to report to me all evidence so taken by you, and also your opinions thereon." All papers, documents, and records of every do scription, relating to the subject, in the custody of the several Govern- ment departments, were placed at the disposal of the Commissioners, and every facility was given them for the examination of witnesses, and for procuring all available evi- dence likely to be of interest.
The first meeting of the Commis- sioners appointed to inquire into the working of the Contagious Diseases Ordinances of 1857 and. 1867, was
held on the 24th November 1877, when the whole of the members were present, and Mr. T. C. Hayllar was elected chairman. After discussing preliminaries, and arranging the scope and plan of the enquiry, the legitimate business of the meeting commenced with the oxamination of Mr. Cecil Clementi Smith, the Re- gistrar General and Colonial Trea surer of the colony. The detailed labors of the Commissioners, lasting for a period of about eighteen months, have been published in a special volume by the Government, and form a most revolting record of prurient filthiness, surpassing anything we have ever read.
ance and the abuses connected with its proper working, as necessary cvils.
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worst class of women. This is not what was expected from the Com- mission. If the Registrar-General's
Apropos of our recent remarks department wants re-organising, let steps be at once taken to have it placed anent the China Mail's unfair and in working order, so that the Ordinan-garbled account of Governor Hen- ces may be fairly and properly carriednessy's policy in Barbadoes, the out. If the present Inspectors are following extract from the groat not fit for their work, let others be Liboral "wook" the Spectator, appointed who can be trusted, and at
salary which will place them out-published in 1875, just after Mr. side of the fear of being corrupted. Hennessy (as he then was) assumed Give these officers a proper status in the Governorship is of interest :- the Goverment service, and do not
"Mr. Popo Hennessy, the New Governor encourage or permit other officers of Barbadoos, has had, like every other Governor, to receive an address from the to speak of them in terms of con-
Illicit Bishop and his clergy. The address was tempt and disparagement.
the Church, and Mr. Hennessy is a decided Roman Catholic, the situation was a little awkward, but the Governor turned it vory neatly. He told the deputation that he had onco, when in Parliament, travelled from the cast of Europe night and day to
Although we have carefully read and re-read the whole of the evi- dence laid before the Commissioners, (a most tedious and unwholesome task be it confessed) and devoted a good deal of time to studying the conclusious arrived at, and the sug- gestions offered by Mr.T. C. Hayllar, and Dr. Eitel, we are rather at a loss to understand on what tangible grounds those gentlemen based the Utopian changes they would have liked to propose. That the system of carrying out the Ordinance has been impregnated with abuses of a doubt-prostitution in Hongkong has be-presented, and as it asked protection for
On the 17th October 1877, in con- junction with the late Mr. John Jack and Mr. Conrad H. Bluhm, we formed a jury before Mr. James Russell, Coroner, summoned to enquire into the death of Fung-a-Sz, a Chinose female, who had fallen down a smoke hole at No. 42. Peel-street, whilst escaping from the pursuit of Inspector Lee, who had forced his way into the house on information that it was used as an unlicensed brothel. The enquiry, we remember, was away tedious and protracted one, lasting over three days, when it was adjour- ned until the 29th October, as another woman, named Tai-Tau, who had also fallen down the smoke hole, was in the Government Civil Hospital and not expected to recover. This woman died on the 27th and an inquest was held on the afternoon of that day, which, after an examina- tion of the body, was adjourned till the 29th, when both cases were taken together. A vast amount of information relative to the working of the Registrar General's Depart ment with regard to licensed and unlicensed prostitution, was clicited during the above enquiries, and it is not too much to say that a state of affairs was disclosed, which peremip- torily called for the interference of the Government. With our brother jurors we felt strongly that the two women had met their deaths through the illegal acts of Inspector Lee in forcing his way into the house, and afterwards pursuing them on the house-tops, where in great bodily fear and with the hope to evade capture, (which by the way, would have been an illegal act in itself, as the womon In December 1878 Mr. Hayllar and had committed no offence, and were Dr. Eitel, Mr. Keswick having tem- merely servants, and not occupiers porarily left the colony, sont in a of the supposed unlicensed brothel), comprehensive report on the evidence they threw themselves down the brought before them which occupies smoke-hole, receiving fatal injuries. 53 pages of closely printed foolscap. However as the Inspector was work- The opinions of these two members ing in strict accordance with the un- of the Commission may be briefly sum- written laws, or recognised practices marised as follows:-Prosecutions of his department, and had acted in conducted under the Ordinances of this case exactly as he had done in 1857 and 1867 wore admitted to have previous instances which had come been attended with serious scandals under the notice of his superiors in and abuses; and the system of em- the ordinary procedure, without re-ploying informers in the detection of ceiving either censure for his errors illicit prostitution was emphatically or definite instructions for his future condemned, as it had proved quito guidance, it would have been mani- ineffectual in suppressing either un- festly unfair to have saddled him licensed houses, or unregistered pros. with blame which was properly attitutes. The Brothel Laws, it was tributable either to the neglect of contended, had neither checked nor his chiefs, or the inherent defects of modified the spread of disease, and the organisation of his department, rather to licensed than to un- for which he was certainly in no registered houses was to be at- way responsible. Two of the jurors tributed the usual source of infec- causo men happen to bo called In- wore strongly in favour of a verdict tion. Houses for the sole uso of spectors or Interpreters of the Medi- case. of manslaughter against the Inspec- Chinese had not been in any ap-cal department, why they should be tor, not so much for any decided preciable way benefited by Governless honest, or more open to corrup-humanitarian point of view, but will
take steps to bring it within reason- able bunds, and we hope that Mr. Russell, who probably knows more about the matters we have been referring to than any officer in the colony, will commence action in a new sphere, with instructions to use every legitimate means to carry out the provisions of the Ordinances to their fullest extent.
Or
voto against a proposal which attacked the Church of England. Arriving an hour or two before the division, he made the vote, which would have been 274 to 273, af equal one, and the Speaker, as usual, gave his vote for further consideration. Mr.
Hennessy had, in fact, "saved the Church" for that night, and was told by Mr Disraeli that his vote was a "significant incident in his career." The obvious deduction for the Bishop of Barbadoes was, that the Governor would protect the Church in the colony, and he made it still more plain by declaring that he regarded the Anglican Church as "a breakwater rising in Europe," an opinion in which -against-tho-tide of infidelity now unhappily Dr. Mitchison no doubt heartily coin-. cided."
ful character was self-evident, by come such a crying evil that the the necessity for a Commission Government must sooner or later of Inquiry. It seems a bold as- sertion to say that the spread of infection has not been to some extent checked, or prevented by the operation of the Brothel Laws, and is contrary we think to the weight of evidence produced. Nor can it be maintained on reliable evidence that it is to licensed, rather than to unre- gistered houses that the source of this evil must be looked for. It will be conceded that laws, no matter of The public acts of a Government, how objectionable character they to be fairly guaged for good evil, may be, must have some officers to must be judged by results. Placing carry them out; so that the Com- absurd prejudices to one side, and missioners' remarks about the em viewing the question from the prac ployment of Inspectors and Inter- tical stand point which all sensible preters being a frequent source of mon desirous of judging a case on corruption, without suggesting any its merits would adopt, it will hardly The consistont and impartial sup- adequate substitute for those objec- be denied that Sir John Pope port which Sir John Pope Hennessy tionable functionaries, can hardly be Hennessy's almost entire abolition has given the Church of England considered of much, if of any, mate- of flogging criminals, stands forth as rial consequence to the subject. So one of the most successful measures throughout his public carcer, reflects long as the Ordinance exists we must ever introduced into the criminal greatly to his credit, justly onhances have men to look after its working, procedure of this colony. We arrive his reputation as a Governor far and we really cannot see that beat this result by plain facts, which
above paltry party differences, and require no elaboration to prove our
clearly exemplifies the broad lines on which his principles of states- manship are based
We do not intend arguing from a