CO129-286 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black Governor Sir Blake & Public Offices - 1898 [11-12] — Page 80

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in force; the average of admissions per thousand for S.S. and

Hong Kong during the nine years from 1879 to 1887 inclusive

being 178.06.

But the case for taking special measures in the

Straits is not particularly strong; and surely no great harm

could arise from allowing the present voluntary system to

remain in force for some time longer, to see how far the

gradual improvement will continue.

I suggest this especially because the 0.A.G. and the

Committee's report enclosed in the Straits despatch are strong-

ly opposed to attempting anything on the lines of the Indian

rules. I confess I think that most of the reasons given by

the Committee in the marked passage on page 55 are very for-

cible, if not conclusive, against the adoption of any such

system for the Colony.

(the two wer not separate in returns)

-960.11

p.54 print

P. 79.

There are some statements in the evidence not contradicted,

as to the unattractiveness and discomfort of the volumtery

Lock Hospital. I think it possible that something might be

done to make this Government Hospital more attractive, espe-

cially by putting it in charge of a lady doctor; and I hope

that Mr.Chamberlain will adhere to his suggestion on this

point, notwithstanding Sir James Swettenham's objections.

III.

As to the Native States, the 0.A.G. forwards

a separate despatch. This despatch encloses a strongly worded minute by Sir Frank swettenham, protesting against

the abolition of the old system in the Malay States. He

drags in the wishes of the Sultans into the matter; but as

the system was only applied to Chinese brothels and Chinese

prostitutes, and is not a system previously known to Malays,

or in use, indeed, in any Mohammedan country, I cannot see

that the views of these Malay chiefs have any special value.

I

See also his previous memo. on the subject at p.10 of H.C. 146 1894.

I

P.83.

I submit that he has not shown any reason for dealing with Chinese in the Native States differently from Chinese in

the Colony.

Mr.Hare's memorandum is more important, being a strong plea in favour of registering brothels for the sake of im

In so far proving the position of the unfortunate inmates.

as he wishes to restore the system of registration merely for the purpose of making the houses more sanitary, I cannot see that there is any ground for applying any special sand- tary law to these houses more than to all other Chinese houses. Surely the matter should be dealt with by passing building laws, as at Hong Kong, containing the ordinary

sanitary provisions.

As to the desirability of registering these places for the sake of protecting women from cruel treatment and prac- tical slavery, Mr.Hare's arguments would appear foreiħls if it were not for the fact that we tried to protect then under a registration system at Hong Kong and Singapore for many years, and the results were not much, if at all, more favourable for the women when brothels were registered than they have been since the registration system was abolished. In fact, according to the reports of the Chinese Protectomite at Singapore and the Registrar General at Hong Kong, a larger number of girls have been assisted during the years 1895 -7 than in the three previous years, when Registration was in

force.

It will be seen that Mr.Hare reports that Chinese women e loath the aystem of compulsory medical examination. (And on this point Mr.Hare is probably better qualified to speak than some of the Straits witnesses who expressed a contrary opinion). This is also borne out by the fact that in Hong Kong when the C.D.0. was in force, only women in brothels

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