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Lord
Official Report 14th aple
H.
HONG KONG.
CAVENDISH - BENTINCK asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the steps taken by: the Secretary for Chinese Affairs to satisfy himself that no girl under the age of 19 years is allowed to enter the brothels of Hong Kong; what is the nature of the evidence of age produced to this official: and what evidence does the girl herself take to the brothel-keeper to show that the Secretary of Chinese Affairs has given the girl permission to enter a brothel?
Mr. ORMSBY-GORE: According to the: Governor's report, where doubt exists as to a girl's age, the Committee of the Po Leung Kuk is consulted and if doubt still remains permission is refused. The state- ment of the girl herself is not accepted as evidence of age. Brothels are visited to check the ages of the inmates and cases of unregistered girls or girls apparently under 18 years of age are re- ported. As regards the last part of the question, I have no information, but I will ask the Governor for a report.
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The Po Leung Kuk.
Compiled from Gov./68/20 and Eastern 137.
The Po Leung Kuk, or "Home of Refuge", is a Chinese Institution incorporated by law in 1893.
The "Kuk" is the Girls' Home. It is managed
and financed by voluntary annually elected Committees of Chinese, the being in addition a Permanent Committee, called when necessary, and consisting of the most prominent and public spirited residents of the Colony,
who have served on the Annual Committee and other
charitable committees as well.
and othe
Ex
ALIS AS AL
The Committee Advisory Board for the Secretary for Chinese Affairs in such matters as protection of Chinese women and girls. They have referred to them even
cases that do not go through the Home at all. The police and the general public keep in close touch with it.
Land direct
The Committee consists of 12 members and meets
practically every evening throughout the year. It is in
touch with charitable bodies all over China. It works under conditions of the greatest publicity and bears the very highest reputation for integrity.
The Governor calls it "A long established and
highly respected Institution with which the best Chinese
regard it as an honour to be connected."
The Secretary for Chinese Affairs? Mr. Hallifax,
saya; "It does work which is quite beyond the reach of any Government Department not so ussisted" (i.e. by local unofficial experts).
The Government checks every detail of the Po
Leung Kuk and the Committee's work through the Secretary for,
Chinese Affairs.
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