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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :--

TULIC.O.882/11

سلسلسا

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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declares that practically all prostitutes in the "known others) are infected.

brothels (as well as the

It is therefore obvious that the abolition of recognized brothels is not likely to increase the medical danger.

28. We urge the Government not only to withdraw its protection and recogni- tion from registered brothels, but to make brothel-keeping illegal (as has been done in Rangoon, Madras, and Colombo with excellent results) and to give notice that all brothels, recognized or otherwise, shall be closed within such a period as may be desired-whether 1, 2 or 3 years.

3. Procuration of Women.

It appears from the Singapore Report that the Protectorate "knows the recognized brothels and the police "know" the "sly" brothels. The Protector at We present would appear only to be able to protect women in the recognized houses. suggest therefore that an amendment of the law is needed making it a penal offence for any person to forbid or hinder any person, in any house, to appeal directly to the Protector.

We suggest further the appointment of a woman Assistant to the Protector. with native assistants speaking the native dialects, who would, if necessary, go to women who desired help and advice and not only call them before her.

5. Education.

We approve of all possible means of education and enlightenment whether by cinema or any other means considered practicable by the Administration. 6. Free Treatment System.

We approve of an extended system of free medical treatment for all and urge the training of Chinese doctors in the modern methods of treating venereal diseases. 7. Committee of Inquiry.

We urge the appointment of an impartial mixed Committee of Europeans. Chinese and Malays to inquire into the social and economic conditions of the working people, specially in regard to their housing and recreational facilities and to make recommendations thereon.

8. The Naval Base.

We are particularly anxious that, in view of the impending construction of a naval base, provision should be made beforehand for the rational recreation of the European population connected with the naval base. Reading, writing and recrea- tion rooms, with suitable facilities for food and entertainment, should be provided in convenient places; and all incitements to vice should be be removed.

We think that the Naval administration should either take this work in hand or commit it to some body competent to undertake it.

Finally, we would represent strongly to the Government that the only truly scientific method is to take the long view in this matter. Venereal disease, traffic in women, and public disorder arise inevitably where prostitution and brothel. keeping are given official recognition. The attempted control of brothels has never It heen successful anywhere, either in reducing disease or in protecting women. corrupts the police and demoralizes youth.

The British Government cannot without serious damage to prestige be asso- ciated with a policy of State recognized brothel-keeping, prostitution, and procura- tion of women, and we heg it to act on the example it has itself set in Rangoon and

lsewhere in the East and to break up the vice areas in the Straits Settlements.

NANCY ASTOR.

JOHN H. HARRIS. DOUGLAS WHITE.

Addendum. In signing this memorandum I wish specially to urge the encourage- ment of "family"immigration, i.e., to bring in the children as well as the

Women.

JOHN H. HARRIS.

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Appendix C.

NOTES PREPARED FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE SOCIAL HYGIENE ADVISORY COM- MITTEE AT THE COLONIAL OFFICE BY DR. BOSTOCK HILL, MR. BEATTY, Mr. CHAPMAN AND MRS. NEVILLE ROLFE.

(As amended by the Committee.)

I. IT is desirable, in order to protect minors, to extend the sphere of influence of the Chinese Protectorate as at present exercised to include the non- Cantonese Chinese and other races so long as present conditions exist.

II. It is recommended that action should be taken forthwith to suppress brothels used by Europeans.

III. The problem of venereal disease is one that affects the whole population and any measures taken should affect all sections and both sexes equally.

IV. Adequate free facilities for diagnosis and treatment should be available for the whole population, and advertisements of quack medicines should be abolished by law.

V. It is recommended that further consideration should be given to the question whether, in order to supplement free treatment, it may be desirable that power should be taken, similar to that conferred by the Quarantine and Prevention of Disease Ordinance (No. 157 R.S. 1920) for the compulsory segregation of persons infected with venereal disease in a virulently infective condition.

VI. That teaching on the biology of reproduction and the racial effects of venereal disease should be given full weight in the curriculum of the Singapore Medical College.

VII. That teaching on the biology of reproduction should be encouraged in all schools, including the vernacular, at the discretion of the Colonial authorities.

VIII. That the Public Health Department should encourage the dissemina- tion in every way of information on venereal disease by means of pamphlets, lectures and all forms of suitable propaganda in order to enlighten all sections of the com- munity and that the possibilities of using films made with a Chinese background should be explored.

IX. The provision of increased housing accommodation at reasonable rates is very desirable.

X.

That the encouragement of recreational facilities among all sections of the community will tend to improve conditions.

It is recognized that there is also urgent need for improving the facilities for ordinary social intercourse for young British employees with the resident British community and of increasing provision for their leisure, but this is a matter that can hardly he dealt with through official channels.

3rd March, 1925.

[Attached to 17511/25]

No. 19.

MINUTES OF THE FOURTH MEETING OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL HYGIENE, HELD AT THE COLONIAL OFFICE ON THURSDAY, THE 16TH APRIL, 1925, AT 11.30 A.M.

Present:

THE HON. W. ORMSBY-GORE, M.P. (Chairman). LADY ASTOR, M.P.

DR. F. J. H. COUTTS, C.B.

SIR GILBERT GRINDLE, K.C.M.G., C.B.

S. W. HARRIS, Esq., C.B., C.V.O.

COLONEL D. HARVEY, C.M.G., C.B.E.

DR. A. E. HORN, C.M.G.

A. B. MACLACHLAN, ESQ.

MRS. C. NEVILLE ROLFE, O.B.E.

SURGEON-COMMANDER T. B. SHAW, R.N.

E. B. TURNER, ESQ., F.R.C.S.

DR. J. DOUGLAS WHITE.

D. BEATTY, Esq. (Secretary for Chinese Affairs, Straits

DR. A. BOSTOCK HILL.

G. H. CREASY, Esq. (Secretary).

Settlements).

I. The Minutes of the Third Meeting of the Committee were approved.

D

* No. 18.