FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 1976
COMMENTING ON THE BILL, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: +CIRCUMSTANCES IN HONG KONG HAVE CHANGED IN THE LAST 15 YEARS. CRIMINAL OPERATIONS IN PROSTITUTION AND OTHER FORMS OF VICE HAVE GROWN ENORMOUSLY.
+ THE PRESENT PROVISIONS IN THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES ORDINANCE, PARTICULARLY THE PENALTY LEVELS, WHICH CAME INTO FORCE IN 1951, ARE INADEQUATE TO MEET THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES, HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE PRESENT PUNISHMENT WHICH COULD BE IMPOSED UPON THE KEEPER OR PERSON IN CONTROL OF A BROTHEL OR LODGING HOUSE FOR PROSTITUTES WAS $1,000 AND THREE MONTHS IMPRISONMENT ON FIRST CONVICTION, $2,000 AND SIX MONTHS ON SECOND CONVICTION AND $5,000 AND ONE YEAR ON SUBSEQUENT CONVICTIONS.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE PRESENT PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES ORDINANCE DID NOT SUFFICIENTLY COVER SOME AREAS OF VICE.
AS AN EXAMPLE, HE SAID THERE WERE NOW NUMEROUS ESTABLISHMENTS WHICH DID NOT QUALIFY AS BROTHELS BUT WHICH WERE USED TO CONTACT PROSTITUTES OR WHICH PROVIDED FACILITIES FOR ARRANGING PROSTITUTES TO BE MADE AVAILABLE OR FOR UNLAWFUL SEXUAL INTERCOURSE AND OTHER FORMS OF VICE.
+AT PRESENT THEY CAN OPERATE WITH LITTLE RESTRAINT UPON THEM AND IT IS THOUGHT THAT THEY ARE THE BREEDING AND RECRUITING GROUND FOR PROSTITUTION AND VICE RACKETS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE NEW DEFINITION OF +VICE ESTABLISHMENT WILL EMBRACE THESE PLACES AND VARIOUS OFFENCES WILL BE CREATED IN RELATION TO VICE ESTABLISHMENTS.
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