CO129-214 - Public Offices & Others - 1883 — Page 583

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

Office, wherein the late Governor points out that "the existing laws against slavery" if properly enforced by the police would be sufficient to ensure the real freedom of the Chinese Women referred to.

On the evidence of the despatches of Sir J. Pope Hennessey to Lord Kimberley, taken before the Hong Kong Commission of Inquiry into the working of the Contagious Diseases Ordinances, and in the letters and papers by European Officials printed in the appendix to this report, your Lordship will find a mass of evidence in support of the late Governor's assertions that the Ordinances have "intensified brothel slavery"; and that the Ordinance of 1867, by giving larger powers to the Registrar General, and thereby indirectly to Inspectors with whom the practical working of the Ordinance lies, made the condition of "the unfortunate women sold to licensed brothels" worse than it was before.

The Commissioners say "It seems to us that everything which strikes foreigners as objectionable in the Chinese brothel system flourishes practically unchecked within the regulated institutions". Mr. Pang Ui-Shang, native medical man, one of the witnesses before the Commission, said: "The fact of licensing these brothels gives the keepers a sort of official authority. The keepers are haughty sort of people, and they boast of the protection of the Inspectors. Girls newly arrived would be afraid of the mistress on account of the threat which the mistress would use of bringing in the Inspector. Foreign brothels are, in my opinion, recruited by compulsion..... I never heard of a girl voluntarily entering a foreign brothel. I am afraid there are instances where brothel keepers have used the authority of their position to compel women to remain in the brothels." This is confirmed by the licensed brothel keepers themselves. One of them, Yip-Men-Chuur, said: "The women are more manageable under the present licensing system." Another, Lou-Ilwai-Tsoi, said: "I find the Inspector a good friend. He treats us very well." And another, Li-A-Chuk, described how the "always friendly" Inspector helped her to obtain "new girls." The evidence bearing upon this point of Mr. May, first police magistrate, and Mr. Beddell-Le-Yuen, Interpreter at the Police Court, is to the same effect. And the Commissioners sum up their conclusions on this part of the subject: "It seems that although the Brothel Ordinances did not call into being this 'horrible', 'cruel', and 'haughty' race of women, they have armed them with obvious power which they would not otherwise have possessed, and there is consequently reason to apprehend that Government supervision...

Page 573

Edit History

2026-05-24 06:09:00 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
Live
View comparison
AI Proofread
Office, wherein the late Governor points out that "the existing laws against slavery" if properly enforced by the police would be sufficient to ensure the real freedom of the Chinese Women referred to. On the evidence of the despatches of Sir J. Pope Hennessey to Lord Kimberley, taken before the Hong Kong Commission of Inquiry into the working of the Contagious Diseases Ordinances, and in the letters and papers by European Officials printed in the appendix to this report, your Lordship will find a mass of evidence in support of the late Governor's assertions that the Ordinances have "intensified brothel slavery"; and that the Ordinance of 1867, by giving larger powers to the Registrar General, and thereby indirectly to Inspectors with whom the practical working of the Ordinance lies, made the condition of "the unfortunate women sold to licensed brothels" worse than it was before. The Commissioners say "It seems to us that everything which strikes foreigners as objectionable in the Chinese brothel system flourishes practically unchecked within the regulated institutions". Mr. Pang Ui-Shang, native medical man, one of the witnesses before the Commission, said: "The fact of licensing these brothels gives the keepers a sort of official authority. The keepers are haughty sort of people, and they boast of the protection of the Inspectors. Girls newly arrived would be afraid of the mistress on account of the threat which the mistress would use of bringing in the Inspector. Foreign brothels are, in my opinion, recruited by compulsion..... I never heard of a girl voluntarily entering a foreign brothel. I am afraid there are instances where brothel keepers have used the authority of their position to compel women to remain in the brothels." This is confirmed by the licensed brothel keepers themselves. One of them, Yip-Men-Chuur, said: "The women are more manageable under the present licensing system." Another, Lou-Ilwai-Tsoi, said: "I find the Inspector a good friend. He treats us very well." And another, Li-A-Chuk, described how the "always friendly" Inspector helped her to obtain "new girls." The evidence bearing upon this point of Mr. May, first police magistrate, and Mr. Beddell-Le-Yuen, Interpreter at the Police Court, is to the same effect. And the Commissioners sum up their conclusions on this part of the subject: "It seems that although the Brothel Ordinances did not call into being this 'horrible', 'cruel', and 'haughty' race of women, they have armed them with obvious power which they would not otherwise have possessed, and there is consequently reason to apprehend that Government supervision... Page 573
Baseline (Original)
Office, wherein the late Governor points that "the existing laws against slavery " if properly enforced by the police would be sufficient to ensure the real freedom. " of the Chinese Women referred to "_ on the evidenc Iir the despatches of Sir I. Pope Hennessey to Lord Kimberley, saken before the Hong Kong Commission of Inquiry into the working of the Contagious Diseases Ordinances, and in the letters and papers by European Officials printed in the appendix to this report your Lordship will find a mass of evidence in support of the late Governor's assertions that the Ordinances have "intensified brothel. slavery; and that the Ordinance of 1867 by giving larger powers to the Regishar General, and thereby indirectly to Inspectors " with whom she practical working of the "Ordinance lies, made the condition of "the unfortunate women sold to "licensed brothel "before" ap worse than it was mat The Commissioners say " It seems to us that everything which strikes foreigners objectionable in the Chinese brothel system: flourishes practically unchecked within the regulated institutions". Mr Pang Ui-Shang native medical man, one of the witnessin before the Commission said: "The fact of licensing these brothels gives the keepers " sort of official authority. The keepers " haughty" sort of people, and they boast a Q) au al q #1 "a 573 of the protection of the Inspectors - Guils "newly arrived would be afraid of the "mistress on account of the threat which. "the mistress would use of bringing in the "Inspector . - Foreign brothels are in my opinion " recruited by compulsion.....I never heard of girl voluntarily entering a foreign brothel "I am afraid there are instances where brother keepers have used the authority of their " position to compel women to remain in the " brothels" This is confirmed by the licensed brothel keepers themselves. _ One of them Yip - Men-Chuur, said: "The women are " more manageable under the present " licensing system: Another, Lou-Ilwai- Tsoi, said: "I find the Inspector a good " friend. He treats us very well." and another, Li-A. Chuk, described how the "always friendly" Inspector helped her to obtain "new girls" The evidence bearing upon this point of Mr May, first police. magistrate, and Mr Beddell - Le-Yuen, Interpreter at the Police Court, is to the same effect: and the Commissioners there sum up their conclusions on this part of the subject: "It that " although the Brothel Ordinances did " not call into being this "horrible" "cruel" and "haughty race of women, they "have armed them with obvious powero # seerns " which they would not otherwise have possessed, and there is consequently " reason to apprehend that Government supervision
2026-05-24 06:09:00 · Baseline
View content

Office, wherein the late Governor points that "the existing laws against slavery " if properly enforced by the police would be sufficient to ensure the real freedom. " of the Chinese Women referred to "_

on the evidenc

Iir the despatches of Sir I. Pope Hennessey to Lord Kimberley, saken before the Hong Kong Commission of Inquiry into the working of the Contagious Diseases Ordinances, and in the letters and papers by European Officials printed in the appendix to this report your Lordship will find a mass of evidence in support of the late Governor's assertions that the Ordinances have "intensified brothel. slavery; and that the Ordinance of 1867 by giving larger powers to the Regishar General, and thereby indirectly to Inspectors " with whom she practical working of the "Ordinance lies, made the condition of "the unfortunate women sold to "licensed brothel "before"

ap worse than it was

að mat

The Commissioners say " It seems to us that everything which strikes foreigners

objectionable in the Chinese brothel system: flourishes practically unchecked within the regulated institutions". Mr Pang Ui-Shang native medical man, one of the witnessin before the Commission said: "The fact of licensing these brothels gives the keepers " sort of official authority. The keepers " haughty" sort of people, and they boast

a

Q)

au al

q

#1

"a

573

of the

protection of the Inspectors - Guils "newly arrived would be afraid of the "mistress on account of the threat which. "the mistress would use of bringing in the "Inspector . - Foreign brothels are in my opinion " recruited by compulsion.....I never heard of

girl voluntarily entering a foreign brothel "I am

afraid there are instances where brother keepers have used the authority of their " position to compel women to remain in the " brothels" This is confirmed by the licensed brothel keepers themselves. _ One of them

Yip - Men-Chuur, said: "The

women

are

" more manageable under the present " licensing system: Another, Lou-Ilwai- Tsoi, said: "I find the Inspector a good " friend. He treats us very well." and another, Li-A. Chuk, described how the "always friendly" Inspector helped her to obtain "new girls" The evidence bearing upon this point of Mr May, first police. magistrate, and Mr Beddell - Le-Yuen, Interpreter at the Police Court, is to the same effect: and the Commissioners there

sum up their conclusions on this part of the subject: "It

that " although the Brothel Ordinances did " not call into being this "horrible" "cruel" and "haughty race of women,

they "have armed them with obvious powero

#

seerns

" which they would not otherwise have

possessed, and there is consequently

" reason to apprehend that Government

supervision

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.