CO129-484 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1924 [1-7] — Page 269

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in the harbour, and I have nothing to add to what I then wrote except to remark that I consider the recommendations in paragraph 7 of Mrs. Rolfe's letter wholly unsuitable for the Port of Hongkong. Regulations which are possible in a comparatively small port such as Colombo are quite inapplicable to this harbour with its miles of water covered with hundreds of boats, which are the permanent habitations of thousands of people and which are in many cases propelled and managed by women. Endeavours to enforce a system of permite would entail an amount of interference with the daily life of the comunity which would be bitterly resented, The matter is really settling itself through the vigilance of the police combined with more assistance from the shipping companies.

4. The question of the locality of the brothels referred to in the second paragraph of the Duke of Devonshire's despatch of 18th December has been dealt with to some extent in my previous despatch. I do not consider that it is possible to remove them to a "much less accessible quarter of the town". The area of Victoria is so small that most parts of the city are equally accessible. To find a "much less accessible" position than the present it would be necessary to go to a spot which would be practically inaccessible and the result would be the same

the as would follow from an attempt at total suppression opening of clandestine brothels throughout the city, a large increase in the number of street-welkers and consequently

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a great increase in the number of cases of venereal disease,

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient humble servant,

7.2. Stabb

Governor, &c.