CO129-286 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black Governor Sir Blake & Public Offices - 1898 [11-12] — Page 82

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finally issued in India. I do not know why the clause was omitted, but I presume that the doctors protested against it so far as it concerned them, and that the remaining provisions were considered unworkable, which at any rate seems exceedingly probable. I hope that Mr.Chamberlain will not allow the

clause in Hong Hong.

B.

It is surely inadvisable to put the working of such

an Ordinance into the hands of the Captain Superintendent of Police. It would be better, and more on the lines of the Indian Regulations to let it be worked throughout by Medical Officers, as in the Ceylon draft Ordinance. The police have diffialties and temptations enough in connection with the suppression of gambling and other matters, and ought not to have this additional burden on their shoulders. Health ques-

tions are more suitably dealt with by health officers.

C. Section 9 does not carry out the Secretary of State's instructions, which were that "power should be given".

for the head of the police to take proceedings for the closing of any brothel, andnot merely one which is used "to the annoy- ance of the respectable inhabitants of the vicinity"." This section should be amended as altered in pencil on p.97 of print.

D. Section 12, as to the temporary closing of a brothel, should not be allowed. It is unnecessary since we have power to close brothels permanently; and is objectionable, because when permission is given to open the house again, it may be taken as practically licensing the brothel.

E.

The clauses as to banishment go beyond anything in the Indian Regulations; and Section 13 in particular is un- precedented, as it gives power for the banishment of a British

subject

par.6.des

on pp.48,

ar.4, dest.

n 17236.

subject from part of Her Majesty's Dominions.

This is,

I believe, wholly unconstitutional, and we should explain

that the paragraph in Mr.Chamberlain's despatch was not in-

tended to apply to British subjects.

I send this on

S.W.J. 18 Mar.

M-Cambulain to be seen by

before the deputation comes on Friday have privately given the expectation that they Should if plesible some

Mactical alternative to the

suggest

Sone

Suggestion - which

is not likely to be entertained - that the

old acts should be reenacted.

As to registration of brothels see pages の

83.7 the enclosed print. The ariter

of

is reputed to have more knowledge of

Chinese than

any

the

other Gevenimen

government officer

in the Malay Jeninsula. See also fip.51-2 the Parliamentary Poper of 94. showing

a

g

in

Chinese opinion in

Hongkong on the abolition of registration before it was an accomplished fract

CPL 22 March

Gulmer

au ret

The reports from the 3 Celonies

as to the pepible efficacy of any in entreting the Leang of sepetalin

haly measures