CO129-472 - Others - 1921 — Page 461

SINGAPORE

458

GENERAL REPORT

-8-

Committee of women were appointed with directions to co-operate with the Men's Association in formulating plans for a Singapore Welfare Association which should undertake to promote facilities for recreation for officers and men of the mercantile marine and for the junior employes of the firms.

Information has recently reached the Council that the Seafarers' Clinic was opened in March. THE SUPPRESSION OF PROSTITUTION.

The European prostitutes have been banished and the openly tolerated houses kept by Europeans have been closed. The Japanese Consul recently took steps to close the Japanese houses. Only a small proportion of the inmates, however, were deported, the remainder Boattered over the town and are said to retain their original clientèle on clandestine lines.

A large number of brothels are recognised by the Government; though not licensed, the Government" have power to remove them at any time, but if they are decently conducted they are allowed to remain.

The brothels are in the most frequented part of the town. Their inmates are displayed in highly illuminated interiors to the passers by. The girle are all Chinese, and the patrone are also, in the majority of cases, Chinese.

There is no medical examination of these girls except such as is privately arranged for by the keepera of the houses with local medical practitioners. We had evidence that certificates of freedom from infection were given by medical practitioners to the inmates of the houses, and also the Eurasian and other girls carrying on a clandestine trade. Those brothels used by Europeans are run and inhabited mainly by Eurasians but not in as open a manner as those for the Chinese.

The Protector of the Chinese, as in Hong Kong, sees Bach immigrant into the Colony at his office, and if he has reason to believe that she is below the age or la not already a prostitute, he can prevent her entering the brothel; otherwise he registers her, provides her with a card that at any time she wishes to leave she has only to send him, and he will see that she is taken from the brothel and put under the protection of the Colonial Government. Such protection le extended to girls under age, or ill-treated or abandoned, through the medium of a Chinese charttable institution - the Po Leung Kuk. This Institution is under the management of a Chinese Committee, and is maintained partially by Government contributions, but mainly by Chinese. A local Ordinance exista giving powere or detention to the Institution; the Chairman of the Committee being the Colonial Civil Servant, the Protector of the Chinese.

All the girls looked healthy and happy. They were properly taught English, Malay, arithmetic and simple lessons, in addition to cooking, housework and dress- making. The Matron was a trained Eurasian woman and the attendants had all been experienced ayahs in English families. There were large grounds surrounding the buildings. Supervision was maintained over the marriage arrangements of the girls on their departure from the Institute.