Enclosure 3.
3th September, 1894.
55 )
91
SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION BILL 1892
The COLONIAL TREASURER—I rise, gentlemen, to move the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to authorise the Appropriation of a Supplementary sum of two hundred and twelve thousand five hundred and forty-seven dollars and ninety-two cents to defray the charges of the year 1893. I may remark in moving the first reading that, after deducting the savings effected during the year, the net excess is some $2000 only. I have endeavoured to explain the various charges that have to be paid as supplementary in my report, which is printed and will be found in the Bill, and I shall be happy at the second reading to give any further explanation the Council may desire.
ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL—I beg to second that.
THE WOMEN AND GIRLS' PROTECTION (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE, 1894.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL—Sir, in moving the second reading of the Bill entitled "An Ordinance to amend The Women and Girls' Protection Ordinance, 1890," and Ordinance No. 4 of 1891, entitled "An Ordinance to amend The Women and Girls' Protection Ordinance, 1890," I do not propose to detain the Council at any length, as the Council is well aware from the documents published in the daily papers recently that this Bill is introduced by the direct orders of the Secretary of State. I will just review briefly the facts which led to its introduction. Early in 1893 the Secretary of State wrote out here stating that the registration of brothels, and the inspection of inmates, was a system contrary to the recognised policy of Parliament, and that it was to be abolished. I think I am correct in stating that a period of six months was given us to carry out these orders. In April of the same year a letter was written from the Colonial Surgeon to the Colonial Secretary stating his reasons why he objected to the abolition of the examination of women. That letter was in due course forwarded to the Secretary of State, and in the same month the Registrar-General, now Acting Colonial Secretary, in a minute—I think it was in June of the same year—wrote a minute which was also forwarded subsequently to the Secretary of State, in which he expressly stated he was then forwarding the representations of the Watch Committee.
"It will be seen that in this representation it is pointed out that the abolition of registration will result in the keepers of brothels having more control than at present over inmates; that the inmates will not be so well off as under the present system, and will have no opportunity, as they now have, of becoming acquainted with their rights of freedom; that the colony will be overrun with brothels unless they are confined, as at present, to certain neighbourhoods; and that this will lead to a decrease in the numbers of Chinese families residing in the Colony. I do not propose at the present time to discuss this question, as I can avail myself of the opportunity when at home to give my views, if they are desired, to the authorities at the Colonial Office. I would, however, like to state that I think the views of the Chinese, as expressed in their representation, are worthy of serious consideration." Notwithstanding those letters which were duly forwarded, as I have already stated, the Secretary of State on April 17th reiterated his commands, at the same time suggesting that certain powers might be taken with regard to brothels which might prove a nuisance to the neighbours. Accordingly, this Ordinance repeals part 3 of Ordinance 11 of 1890, which provided, inter alia, for the registration of brothels, the responsibilities of the keepers, under what circumstances brothels should be considered as nuisances, and which gave power to the Governor to limit the area within which brothels should be kept. It also repeals part 4, section 24, which gave the Registrar-General the power to enter and inspect these places, and it further repeals section 25, which gave power to the Registrar-General to call for the reduction of the number of inmates in brothels. It repeals section 13, which enabled the Governor to make rates for the registration and inspection and cleanliness of brothels, and all rules made under that section. In section 24 of Ordinance 11 of 1890, a slight amendment is introduced, and in pursuance of the suggestion of the Secretary of State (in paragraph 7 of his dispatch of April 17th), the Bill gives summary jurisdiction to close brothels as disorderly houses on the complaint of neighbours. I may say that the power is expressly stated to be in addition to, and not in substitution of, any common law right. There may be brothels which prove to be a nuisance. With these few remarks, I will move the second reading, which we, as members of the Government, will have loyally to carry through according to the mandate of the Secretary of State.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
Hon. C. P. CHATER—Sir, with regard to the Bill which is before us, we are fully aware how useless would be any opposition on our part. As the Attorney-General has informed us, it has been ordained that the Bill is to be passed, and all the recommendations of those who are best qualified to know the circumstances to pronounce an opinion on them from experience, long residence, and special knowledge, have been studiously ignored. The arguments against the measure are many and weighty, and have been put forward in the most cogent manner by those to whose dictum most importance should be attached. It would be a futile task on my part to re-capitulate them, knowing as I do that arguments are useless weapons to combat the orders of the Colonial Office in a matter like this, and that prejudice must carry the day.
Page 91
Page 92
Enclosure 3.
3th September, 1894.
55 )
91
SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION BILL 1892 numbers of Chinese families residing in the The COLONIAL TREASUREB-1 rise, ge, to onleny. I do not propose at the present time to move he first reading of a Bill entitled An Or- discuss this question, as I can avail myself of the dingues authorise the Appropriation of a opportunity when at home to give my views, if Supplementary sum of two hundred and twelve they are desired, to the authorities at the Col -nia! thousand five hundred and forty-seven dollars ffice. I would, however, like to s.ate that I and ninety-two cents to defy the charges of think the views of the Chinese, as expressed in the year 1893. I os remark in moving their representation, are worthy of serious con- the first reading after deducting thesid ration." Notwithstanding those letters which savings effected during the year the net excess were duly forwarded, as I have already stated, the is some $2000 only I have endeavoured to ex- Secretary of State on April 17th reiterated plain the vari.. charges that have to be paid his commands, at the same time suggesting that as supplementary in my report, which is printed | certain powers might be taken with regard to and will be found in the Bill, and I shall be brothels which might prove a anisaree to the bappy at the second reading to give any further | neighbours. Accordingly this Ordinancs rep als explanation the Conncil may desire.
part 3 of Ordinanca 11 of 1890 which provided Pas ACTING ATTUENEY-GENERAL-I bex to | for, inter alia, the registration of brothels, the second that.
responsibilities of the keepers, under what cir- canistances brothels should be considered as THE WOMEN AND GIRIS” PROTECTION (AMEND-Duisauces, and which gave power to the Gover-
MENT) EDINANCE. 1894.
nor to limit the area within which brothels The ACT Nu ATTORNEY GENERAL-Sir. in should be kept. It also re eals part 4 moving the second reading of the Bill entitled | section 24, whiob gave the Registrar-General Au Ordinance to amend The Women and the power to enter and insprot these places, and Girls' Protection Ordinance. 1890," and Or-it further repeals section 25. which gave power dinance No ·4 of 1891. entitled “An Ordinance to the Registrar-General to call for the reduction to amend The Women and Girls' Protection of the number of inmates in brothels. It repeula Ordinance. 1890" I do not propose to detain section 13 which enabled the Governor to make the Council at say length, as the Coun il is well ¦ rates for the registration and inspection and aware from the documents published in the daily cleanliness of brothels, and all rules made un- papers recently that this Bill is introduend by the der that section lus ction 24 of Ordinance direct orders of the Secretary of State I will 11 of 1890 a Blight amendment is introduced, just review briefly the facts which led to its and in pursuance of the sug restion of the introduction. Early in 1893 the Secretary of Secretary of State (in paragraph 7 of his dis- State wrote out here stating that the registration | patch of April 17th) the Bill gives summury of brothels, and the inspection of inmates, was jurisdiction to close broth-ls as disorderly hon JAR a system contrary to the recognised policy of on the complaint of neighbours. I may say that Parliament, and that it was to be abolished" I tue power is expressly stated to be in addition think I am correct in stating that a period of six to, and not in substitution of, any common law months was given us to carry out toso orders. In right there may be agvos brothels whien prove April of the same year a letter was written from to be a nuisance. With these few remarks I the Coloni 1 sorgeou to the Colonial Secretary will move the second reading which we, as mein- stating his reasons why he objected to thebers of the Government, will have loyally to abolition of the examination of women. That carry through according to the mandate of the letter was in due course forwarded to the Socre. | Secretary of State,
tary of State, and in tre same mouth the The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. Registrar-General, now Acting Col nial Seore- Hos. C. P. CHATER-Sir, with regard to the tary, in a minute I think it was in the Bill wLieb is before us, we are fully aware how same month; no, it was in June of the same year nseless would be any opposition on our part. --wrote a minute which was also forwarded | A's the Attoney-General has informed us it bas subequently to the Secretary of State in which | been ordained that the Bill is to be passed, and be expressly stated he was then forwarding the | all the recommendations of those wh› are best representations of the Watch Committee-qualified to know the circumstances to pronounce “It will be seen that in this representation it an opinion on them from experience, long is pointed out that the abolities of registration | residence, and special knowledge, have been will result in the keepers of brothels having studiously ignored. The arg tants against more cotrol than at present over iomates; that the measure are many and weighty, and have inmates will not be so well off as nader the present | been put forward in the most oog at manner by system, and will have no opportunity, 22 tbos to whose dictum most importance should they now bave, of brooming - nequainted į be attached. It would be a futile task on my part with their rights of freedom; that the colony | to reo-pitulate them, knowing as I do that will be overrun with brothels uuless they are con- arguments are useless weapons to combat the fineri, as at present, to certain neighbourhoods; orders of the Colonial Office in a matter like and that this will lead to a deoroase in the this, and that prejudice must carry the dug
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