TNAG-1555-FCO40-2119-Broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 127

(a)

(b)

(c)

74

section 143 of the Crimes Ordinance, Chapter 200, could be amended to place a duty on property owners to take steps to evict those concerned with operating vice establishments* or those wilfully a party to that use continuing. At present an owner or tenant or agent may only be prosecuted if he lets a premise with the knowledge that it is to be used as a vice establishment. option suggests is to include additionally "permit or suffer" the premises to be used as a vice

What the

establishment as an offence under this section; thus placing a duty on the owner, his tenant or his agent to evict the individuals who run the

establishment;

the fines under the relevant sections of the Crimes Ordinance could be increased and a principle of sentencing decleared that confirms the availability of deterrent fines; and

the law could be amended to create a system of closure orders against vice establishments.

6.106 Options (a) and (b) may be controversial and they have not yet been studied closely. Option (c), a system of closure orders, has however been studied in depth. In view of the delicate nature of the subject, this paper does not discuss options (a) and (b) further. But option (c) is described in full, in view of the public concern over vice establishments in residential buildings.

*

S

"Vice establishments" are defined in law in

section 117 of the Crimes Ordinance. The definition sets out that any premises, vessel or place shall not be treated as a vice establishment unless -

(a)

(b)

the premises, vessel or place are or is used wholly or mainly by two or more women for the purposes of prostitution; or

the premises, vessel or place are or is used wholly or mainly for or in connexion with the organising or arranging of prostitution.