CO129-472 - Others - 1921 — Page 448

445

SINGAPORE

CONFIDENTIAL

Conditions (continued),

often a more transitory relationship.

There is no law against solicitation, but except for solicitation by post the extent of which is con- siderable on the part of the Eurasian clandestine prosti- tutes, there is very little soliciting in public places.

Among the responsible persons, including the Principal Civil Medical Officer, the Attorney-General, the Colonial Secretary, two of the unofficial members of the Legislative Council, as well as the majority of the medical profession, we found a strong belief existed in the efficiency of medical examination and the necessity of regulating prostitution through licensed brothels, and among some of them a strong desire to re- introduce the 0.D. Acts. As we did not wish to jeopardise the future of the free treatment scheme we did not deal with the question of the suppression of the brothels to any great extent at the larger meetings, or at the Chinese meetings, but I took every opportunity of laying all the available evidence before the individuals themselves, and I think now they realise that medical examination is useless as a public health measure, and that there is no fear of the G.D. Acts being hastily re- introduced without full and careful enquiry; such an enquiry, if impartial, would, of course, convince them of the uselessness of such a policy. I went into the whole matter very carefully with His Excellency the Governor. He realises that the standard of public opinion among the medical profession and many of his own representative people is extremely low, and that it would probably be difficult to abolish the brothels immediately. He is determined, however, that they shall not be licensed, and that there should be no re- introduction of anything like the C.D. Acts. He is quite in favour of an enquiry being undertaken as to practical measures that can be taken with reference to the advertisement to promiscuity that exists. thinks personally that some practical measures might be devised to check the solicitation by post, and the visiting of the men's messes by the Malay girls.

FILMS.

He

The question of a display of films was discussed. Those to be displayed to general audiences had to pass the local Censor. Sir William Kurison himself exempted the medical and educational films from censorship. It was agreed that the other films could usefully be shown to the European population, but that the audience should not include Malays or Chinese.

Arrangements were made for three showings of the films, one on the 19th of the "END OF THE ROAD": two on the 21st and 24th of "DAMAGED GOODS". Notices of the meetings were distributed through the Headmasters of the schools. As the result of a request made by representa- tives at the teachers' conferences, permission was asked and obtained to alter the film invitations to include "English speaking residents" in place of "Europeang", as it was desired that the Eurasian teaching staff should be included. Experience proved this to be a mistake as large