October 7, 1938
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT
CANDID CAMERA AT VALLEY RACE MEETING
583
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A GROUP OF charming Chinese ladies photographed at the Seventh Extra Race meeting held at Happy Valley on Sept. 24.
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TRAFFICKING IN GIRLS
Further Evidence In S.C.A. Case
GIRL WHO LEARNED DANCING
Chin Oi-fun, aged 16, the sec- ond of four girls involved in the S.C.A. prosecution in which a man and three women are charged in connection with alleged trafficking in girls, gave evidence when the hearing was resumed before Mr. H. R. But- ters at the Central Court on Sept. 27.
The accused were:-
Chin Tung-kan, unemployed Chu Po-chu, married woman; Ng Siu-ying, married woman; and Chau Lo-sam, widow, who were jointly charged yesterday with trafficking in women and girls and harbouring women and girls sold for prostitution.
Chin Tung-kan was additionally charged with living on the earn- ings of prostitutes; and the three women were also accused of exer- cising control over prostitutes.
ed to a lengthy cross-examination which lasted over an hour.
The girl denied that prior to ner being sold to first and second de- fendants, when she was still with her adopted parents, she had been sent to restaurants in Swatow as a sing-song girl. She admitted, however, that she had been sent to the eating houses to entertain customers and received payment for her doing so. But, she said, her adopted parents usually follow- ed her on these occasions.
to further
TRANSFER AS DAUGHTER
Witness in answer questions, stated that she did not know at the time when she was being sold to first and second de fendants that she was to become a prostitute. "I understood I was transferred to them as a daughter." she said.
LEARNED DANCING
Mr. Remedios: I put it to you that far from forcing you to be- come a prostitute, the second de- fendant went so far as to obtain work for you first as a guide ther as a dancing girl.-No, I learned dancing on my own account.
How much did you earn by your profession as a prostitute?--I do not know. I cannot remember.
You were the girl who received the money from the customers. and you must know how much you received a day. Sometimes earned $6 a day, and sometimes I earned $7 a day. It all depends how much the customers were willing to give me. I gave all the money to Chu Po-chu.
I put it to you that at no time in Hongkong when you practised prostitution yourself you have had the consent of second defendant. She ought to know. She was all the time in the house.
WITNESS' DENIAL Witness denied that she had made the complaint as a cause to break the agreement which her parents had signed with second de- fendant.
She told the Court that she The girls were Chin Fei-fei, Chin learned dancing while residing at Oi-fun, Chau Lei-lei and Chau Ma- | Third Street, and the fees were Chin Oi-fun, aged 16, told the lee.
paid by second defendant. She Court that she had been trans- second accused had ferred to Chu Po-chu, second de- Mr. J. B. Prentis, Assistant Crown denied that
assisted by ever told her that prostitution in fendant, when she was 15 years Solicitor, prosecuted, Detective Sub-Inspector J. O'Don- Hongkong was against the law and of age. through a go-between. She that she would have to earn her was asked to impress her finger- living otherwise.
print on a piece of red paper which She was not aware that she the go-between had made could make
out. a complaint to the She also stated that she had been S.C.A. regarding her position unt' forced to practise prostitution. a European from the S.C.A. had After further evidence the hear- called on her.
ing was adjourned.
Ovan.
Mr. J. M. D'Almada Remedios pleaded not guilty to all charges on behalf of all defendants.
Chin Fei-fei, who gave evidence on Monday, was yesterday subject
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