immorality into being. can hardly begin to come
I note here that in Hongkong medical provisions of the C. D. Ordinances were not applied to women in brothels frequented by Chinese; that was considered always to be too great an interference with the wishes of the Chinese; they might be applied to inmates of brothels frequented by Europeans, all along supported, mainly in the interest of the British soldiers. But the W.O. has not asked for the reintroduction of the C.D. Acts. The W.O. is considering what disciplinary measures to adopt in order to reduce immorality among the Indian soldiers; it might be among other things well to ask that Dept what decision they adopt in those respects, & whether they will apply the same to the Troops at Singapore & Hongkong.
We could then consider whether it would be wise to adopt similar measures at Hongkong.
I will refer Mr. Shaw-Lefevre to clause 12 which deals with Brothels &c. Jan. 11 of despatch in [C-8401] see also of correspondence in [C-8538].
Police - which is the Dept. which specially suffers in this matter.
M. Chamberlain asks me to consider whether we should not follow the Example of the Indian Govt. in their recent legislation. In new Indian rules are given special prominence in [C-8538], and the only essential clauses relating to the treatment of this disease [which in these Rules is grouped with other infectious or contagious diseases] are clauses 10 & 11 on p. 15. There provide that the medical officer having prima facie grounds & believes that any woman is diseased may require her to go to hospital & be detained until cured - on pain of being expelled from the Cantonment if she does not consent.
Mr. George Hamilton expressly states that there was to be no compulsory periodical examination.
If you don't submit to this hospital treatment you will be "expelled from the Cantonment!"
This particular method cannot be applied in Singapore + Hongkong, as it would mean to banish women from such circumstances; see however the question of adopting some measure in those Colonies intermediate between the existing voluntary hospital system & the old compulsory & periodical exam. System (the C. D. Act) which I gather from Mr. Chamberlain's minute is considered to be out of the question, as Mr. Hamilton has prohibited this reintroduction in India.
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