of the child. The mother would be temporarily removed to another place for the birth of the child; and after recovery would not resume the life of a prostitute if promised redemption. Should redemption not be carried out, she returns to the brothel with her child, and recommences her prostitution. An event of this kind is extremely rare, and may take three years.
The child so born is the property of the mother, and does not in any way belong to the mistress of the brothel.
Voluntary prostitution, that is to say, prostitution on the own motion of a girl without reference to her parents and apart from sale is extremely rare; and may be said not to exist. There are some however who refuse to be married and who express a wish to their mothers to become prostitutes. Wives occasionally also leave their husbands if cruelly treated, and become prostitutes. As a rule, however, it may almost be confidently asserted that every prostitute in Hongkong is a purchased prostitute, and that the only method known of supplying brothels is that described in this paper, the purchases being either made in the country and brought down to Hong Kong or made in Hongkong itself.
C 45
Sd. H. E. Wodehouse.