American Embassy,
August 25th 1908.
Our officials at Hong Kong and Shanghai have complained to the State Department that the American name suffers obloquy and injury in the Far East through the existence of what is known as the "American girl" quarter in Hong Kong. Out of the forty registered prostitutes in this quarter, twenty-three are registered as Americans, while there is only one of British birth, and even she is registered as born at Montreal and coming to the East from New York.
It is common talk in Hong Kong that British prostitutes are not permitted to remain there. Our officials believe that existing ordinances would permit a similar exclusion of American women of the same class, and if not, that it would be an easy matter to frame ordinances that would permit it; and for the sake of the American name, the Department is extremely desirous that this should be done.
Under the repressive steps taken by Judge Wilfley in the American court at Shanghai, it is believed that practically all American prostitutes have been driven out of that city.
As to the power for this purpose, attention is particularly directed to the third part of Ordinance No. 15 of 1856, enacted by the Governor of Hong Kong with the advice of the Legislative Council, and to Ordinances No. 1 of 1894 and No. 7 of 1891, as well as to the success in excluding British women of ill-fame.
The American Government would be very glad if it might be suggested to the proper Colonial authorities that the question be taken into very serious consideration with reference to some action in the direction desired.