CO129-533-10 Position of prostitution in Hong Kong 16-1-1931 - 19-9-1931 — Page 44

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by the authorities to close any brothel, and (2) of the fact

that it generally coincided otherwise with the keeper's

interests. Chinese and Japanese brothels catering for the

European sailor and soldier class have long had private medical

attendants who inspect the inmates regularly. I am told

that cases under section 12 are rare now because servicemen

now usually profess themselves unable to identify the girl.

10. Under the present toleration system there is no

formal registration of brothels or of their inmates, but, of

course,

a list is kept of all the tolerated houses and of their

mistresses, and particulars and photographs of all the inmates

are filed. All intending inmates are interviewed with a view

to making sure that there is no fraud or compulsion, and that

the girl is apparently of sufficient age. No fee is payable.

Any rumours to the contrary may be based on instances, or

rumours, of "squeeze" on the part of individual district watch-

men, police officers, or clerks.

Complaints of such mal-

practices have been received and are always fully investigated

so far as it is possible. Under Ordinance No.10 of 1867,

section 18, there was a fee of $4 a month payable in respect

of each registered brothel, but that ceased in 1889. If it

becomes necessary to take disciplinary action against a

tolerated house, e.g., for admission of an inmate without any

interview with the authorities, the mistress may be removed,

or the brothel may be closed for, say, a month. It is never

necessary to invoke the law for this purpose, as the existence

in the background of the power of closing the brothel is enough.

The tolerated houses are restricted to certain informally

fixed localities, and before the Secretary for Chinese Affairs

will allow a new house to be opened, he considers objections from

neighbouring occupiers.