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increase in the number of brothels
the
powers under
renders the exercise of the Women and Girls Protection Ordinance all the more difficult,
especially
as there is no authority
under that Ordinance to deal with
houses found.
The Registrar General, in addition to the powers he already possesses, should
be authorised to close any house or part of a house which he is satisfied
is being used for immoral purposes.
As we have stated above, experience has shown that the Chinese will
not appear in the Police Court to lay a complaint against disorderly houses, but we do not think they would hesitate to complain to the Registrar General had he the power to institute an inquiry either on information received through the Police or members of the community, and to close such houses
being used for improper purposes and are situated in undesirable localities.
In addition to increasing the powers of the Registrar General
in the direction indicated, we submit that all brothels or houses of ill-fame, whether open or sly, should be located in and confined to a particular district, say Taipingsha, and not be allowed to be placed close to and in the midst of family residences of respectable Chinese.
We sincerely hope that stringent measures be passed to deal with this crying evil before it is too late, and on behalf of the Chinese community of Hong Kong,
we would urge the Government to give to the subject its earnest and early consideration.
Done
1st June, 1897.
Sto Hai, the Yuk.