Write 8th India Office for information as to the legislation and administrative regulations in force in Burma and especially at Rangoon.
There is a large (lively?) movement in the population, subject of brothels & also inquiry on the matter complained of at Hong Kong is formed & exists in Burma, & if so, in what state.
I submit draft to India Office. That Office is seldom able to give any information without referring to India, involving a delay of from 3 to 6 months.
Meanwhile we may take no action on the separate question dealt with in this paper: viz. the periodical so-called voluntary examination of the women in Haiphong? (see part of my minute marked in red pencil 8 pages back.
(2) I have added the last paragraph to the draft herewith - because the I.O. ought to be able to find out what laws are in force in India. I presume they must have an Index of their laws.
We have a complete Index of Indian Laws in the Law Library; but I find that in Calcutta there is a clause for Suppression of Brothels (S.7 of Act 1 of 1857 in Volume ...). This clause is in force in Bombay & Madras, but I am not certain if it is in force at Rangoon. If a clause like it is in force at Rangoon, I take it that we may conclude that they have nothing like a system of Registration (or Licensing) of Brothels?
R.24/1