CO129-179 - Governor Hennessy - 1877 [9-12] — Page 476

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PAPERS LAID BEFORE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES COMMISSION.

COMMISSION BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

[L.S.] J. PorE HENNESSY.

Whereas during the progress of a Coroner's Inquest held at Hongkong by JAMES RUSSELL, Esquire, Coroner for the Colony of Hongkong, and a Jury of three persons, on the 17th, 18th, 19th and 29th Days of October, a.D. 1877,ching the death of a certain woman named FUNG-A-SZ, alias A-SAU, evidence was laid before the salt corner and Jury concerting certain practices connected with the operation of the "ContagiousDieses Ordinance, 1867," and the suppression of unlicensed Brothels: "And whereas the said practices were for the first time brought to my knowledge by the said evidence: And whereas the Jury aforesaid appended to their verdict at the above Inquest a special finding which, among other matters, contained the following recommendation, viz. :---

"The Jury aforesaid would strongly recommend that the whole system of obtaining convictions "against Keepers of unlicensed Brothels be thoroughly revised, as the present practice is, in their "opinion, both illegal and immoral,”

And whereas for the furtherance of public interests, and with a view to such revision, it is expedient that certain enquiries and investigations should be made touching the operation of the said Contagious Diseases Ordinance generally, and especially as to the regulations and machinery in force for the suppression of unlicensed Brothels: And whereas such enquiries and investigation will be most conveniently prosecuted by means of a Commission: I, Jous POPE HENNESSY, Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, do hereby under my Hand and the Seal of the said Colony appoint you The Honourable WILLIAM KESWICK, Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council, THOMAS CHILD HAYLLAR, Esquire, one of Her Majesty's Counsel for the Colony of Hongkong, and the Reverend ERNEST JOHN EITEL, Master of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy, to be a Commission for instituting and prosecuting all needful or proper enquiries in that behalf, and to take evidence in the premises, and to report to me all evidence so taken by you, and also your opinions thereon. And I do hereby require you to commence your enquiries forthwith, and to proceed therein continuously, and to make your report to me as aforesaid with all reasonable despatch. And I do hereby empower you, during the course, and for the purposes of your said Commission, to demand and obtain access at all times to all Papers, Records und Documents relating to the subject matter of the said Commission being in the custody and under the control of the several Public Departments within this Colony. And from time to time to call before you and examine all persons superintending or employed in or under any of the said Departments. And I do hereby charge all Persons in the Public Service to be aiding and assisting unto you herein. Given under my Hand and under the Seal of the Colony of Hongkong, at Victoria, in the said Colony, this Twelfth Day of November, A.D. One thousand Eight hundred and Seventy-seven.

By His Excellency's Command,

CECIL C. SMITH,

Acting Colonial Secretary.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE INQUESTS.

CORONER'S OFFICE, HONGKONG, 30th October, 1877.

SIR-I beg to forward, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, two inquisitions taken by me yesterday in the cases of two Chinese women who were killed by falling from the top of a house in Peel Street on the night of the 16th or morning of the 17th instant. One of the women died on the spot, whilst the other lived till the 27th instant, when she died in the Government Civil Hospital. In calling attention to the special finding of the Jury, I should like to add a suggestion in

reference to what are termed smoke-holes.

Inspector LEE stated that he had been on the roofs of many houses, and that he had never seen any in which the smoke-holes had not some protection in the shape of a parapet except those of houses 42 and 44 Peel Street.