CO129-472 - Others - 1921 — Page 378

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THE SUPPRESSION OF PROSTITUTION (continued).

We find that there are three centres of prostitution where brothel keeping is allowed by the Government:-

(1) Lindhurst Terrace and the vicinity.

For foreign women and for the better class European.

It is understood that Chinese men are not supposed to visit these houses.

This is taken by both the women in charge and the Chinese to mean that they are not to visit in native costume, but Chinese men in European dress are fre- quenters of the hous88.

Representations were made to us by several responsible residents as to the undesirability of this practice from ita adverse affect on British prestige.

(2) Sampan Street and the Japanese District.

1

This street is immediately adjacent to the block of buildings containing the Seamen's Institute, Sailors Canteen and Soldiers Home. We understand the quarter was selected by the Authorities as being more desirable than the centre of the town, where they were before.

Sampan Street rume between the two main roads, down either of which all Sailors and Soldiers must pass to reach their recreation ground. The front of every house in Sampan Street is open to the street. Except

on a cold day there is constant soliciting from the fronts of the houses and doorways.

The Japanese quarter is orderly, and there is no soliciting in the open.

We understand one of the local firms of doctora contract to examine the women at the keeper's expense. The doctors give certificates of freedom from infection. The certificates are, of course, used as advertisements.

We recommend that the giving of any certificate of freedom from Venereal Diseases should be made illegal.

In New Zealand the Venereal Disease Act which authorised the giving of certificates proved the danger of this form of abuse, and the clause was repealed and a penalty substituted at the end of one year.

(3) Kennedy Town.

This quarter is for Chinese use only; Europeans are not allowed to frequent the houses, and, in the event of one doing so, the keeper of the house is penalised.

Local information stated that this regula- tion is well kept.

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