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With reference to the first proposal (1) we regret to have to report that in our opinion it is impracticable for the following among other reasons:--

(a) We think it probable that such an Order in Council would be attacked in Parliament, and that it would be difficult to defend it, because venereal diseases, though highly contagious, are not infectious in the ordinary sense of the word. If the Order in Council was revoked by order of Parliament, the scheme which rested on it would fail, and we do not think it would be advisable to take action on so insecure a basis.

(b) The requirements of the law as to "dangerous infectious diseases" apply to both sexes, and to all persons whatever their occupation or pursuits, and are so drastic that impartial enforcement would not be tolerated in a British Colony; on the other hand, to apply them to prostitutes alone would imply the recognition and registration of these women as a special class--the very thing the law refuses to do.

.

5. With regard to the second proposal (2), we are aware that some brothel-keepers do at present voluntarily avail themselves to a limited extent of the advice of competent doctors or apothecaries for their girls, but this is the exception, and even where it obtains there is reason to fear that resort is only had to such treatment when disease is advanced and after mischief may have been done. Nor is there any security that the patients are withdrawn from the brothels during treatment. The officers who administered the Contagious Diseases Ordinances, when in force, are still amongst us, and their experience may be referred to to show that, whatever brothel-keepers may profess, the most of them, especially the Chinese, will resist by every means in their power domiciliary visits and the inspection of their girls with the object of removing and segregating those who are affected with venereal disease. They will resort to concealment, substitution, and every device to baffle inspection, so much so, that without registration of the girls and identification by photograph systematic examination would be impos- sible, and removal to the Lock Hospital could only be effected by fear of punishment. We understand that the only weapon intended to be used to enforce compliance is the threat of closing the house as a common nuisance. In most cases this would only mean a change of situation, or that the prostitutes would be scattered among other houses of the same class.

6. On a review of the whole question, we are reluctantly driven to the conclusion that no half measures will avail; and that special legislation on the former lines is necessary to cope with the evil as it exists in this Colony.

ALEX. GENTLE, President, M.C.

WM. NANSON.

THEO. SOHET.

A. C. MOSES.

M. MEYER.

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12 to be retained, substituting for "Cantonment Authority" the words "Chief Police Officer."

13 to be omitted altogether, and a draft Ordinance to be prepared to amend Indian Act XLVIII. of 1860, Section 14, by omitting from that section the following words:-

Line 4, "to the annoyance of the respectable inhabitants of the vicinity "; Lines 7, 8, "and is therefore a source of annoyance and offence to the neighbours."

14 to be retained, omitting the proviso, which in Singapore affords no safeguard, as

a blackmailer will always swear he was the person importuned.

15 (1) to be retained, substituting for "Cantonment Authority" the words "Chief Police Officer."

(2) to be retained with modification similar to that made in Rule 11.

18 to be retained, omitting the words in line 1, " employed in the Cantonment.” Proviso v. (a), omitting all the words after "importuned."

Proviso v. (b), amended so as to run as follows: " By or at the request of a European member of the police force."

Schedule to be amended in accordance with the foregoing.

Enclosure 8 in No. 30.

The CHIEF POLICE OFFICER to the COLONIAL SECRETARY.

(Police 1436/96.)

SIR,

Chief Police Office, Singapore, November 24, 1896. I HAVE the honour to inform you that yesterday morning a report was received that the dead body of a Chinese youth was lying below high water mark on the beach at Tanjong Katong.

2. On examination this was found to be the corpse of a Chinese male, clothed in

a baju and a pair of black leather spring side shoes. His towchang was plaited with red silk, and was tied tightly round his neck, and blood had issued from his mouth.

3. A post mortem examination fixes the boy's age at about 10 years, and discloses the facts that his death was caused by strangulation, and that he was probably an habitual sodomite.

4. So far I have no clue to the deceased's identity, and no boy of his age has been reported as missing. His body has been photographed.

5. A short distance away a hat has been found, which may have belonged to the deceased, and concerning which further enquiries will be made.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

6

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

CHIA GIANG THYE.

Enclosure 7 in No. 30.

PROPOSALS for modifying Indian Cantonment Rules, so as to suit the circumstances of the City of Singapore.

(Part 2, C. 8538.)

(There being no Cantonment Act in the Straits Settlements, it is proposed to repeal the concluding words in the definition of disease in Section 3, Ordinance 19 of 1886, viz., "but does not include any venereal disease";

To pass the undermentioned rules as modified, under Ordinance 19 of 1886; and Again to modify any rules already passed under Ordinance 19 of 1886 which the above alterations may necessitate modifying.)

Indian Rule 1, except (c) and (d); definitions to be omitted.

2 to be retained, substituting for "Cantonment Authority" the expression "Chief

Police Officer.”

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 to be omitted as inapplicable.

10 to be retained, substituting for "hospital or dispensary maintained under Rule

3" the words "Government hospital or dispensary."

11 to be retained, with substitution as above; also in lines 3 and 4 substituting for Commanding Officer of the Cantonment" the words "Chief Police Officer," and again for "Commanding Officer" in line 7. In line 8 for "Cantonment limits" should be substituted "Municipal limits" or " the Colony."

The Honourable

28461.

SIR,

The Colonial Secretary,

(No. 83.)

Straits Settlements.

No. 31.

I have, &c.,

E. H. BILL,

Chief Police Officer.

HONG KONG.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN to GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE.

Downing Street, May 11, 1899.

I HAVE carefully considered Major-General Black's despatch, No. 321, of the 18th November last, forwarding two alternative Bills drafted "to check the spread of venereal disease," and discussing the suggestions which I had made with reference to the question of this disease and the conditions of the inmates of brothels in Hong Kong,

2. I have received a further memorialt on the same subject from the China Asso- February ciation, copy of which is enclosed, and recently a deputation from that Association and 23, 1899. from the Straits Settlements Association represented to me that since the repeal of the

• No. 27.

4718: not printed.

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