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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
According to what the police have disclosed to the press, there were only a total of 26 such vice establishments in Wan Chai in the first half year of 1980, but then the number rose to 35 in the months from July to December 1980.
A so-called 'Fish Ball Stall' is in fact a vice establishment operated under the signboard of 'Fraternity Club', 'Recreation Club', 'Night Club' etc., or 'So & So Company-giving you 'entertainment' 24 hours a day'. Such is merely a palming-off tactic of the vice establishment operators to attract customers.
I think all of you here find the name 'Fish Ball Stall' funny. Since it is not a place for you to eat 'fish ball', how come it is called 'Fish Ball' stall. To put it plainly, 'Fish Ball Stalls' are in fact vice establishments where teenage girls are provided for customers to satisfy themselves by fondling the body of the girls under dim lights. You can now realize what really is going on there! There is certain difference in sense when compared with the 'one-girl private brothel'.
The report by the police further points out that in those establishments in Wan Chai, an average of 30-40 teenage girls are found every month, and most of them are aged 14 to 15. 60% of these girls are students, and most of the others are factory workers. Among these teenage girls, about one third have been reported missing. This shows the seriousness of the problem.
On the other hand, statistics reveal that the problem of school girls working in vice establishments becomes all the more serious in the summer holidays. In that period, most of the girls found by the police during their raids are students.
Despite constant police efforts to weed out these vice establishments, only 10% were prosecuted with sufficient evidence, the rest of them manage to get off scot free for their operators know how to make use of the loopholes of the law. Thus new establishments keep cropping up to swell the existing procession. I, therefore, call upon the authorities to step up control in this area. Under the Protection of Women and Juveniles Ordinance, there should be no room whatsoever for the existence of such shameful 'Fish Ball' establishments.
(2) The 'one-girl private brothel' is but another kind of vice establishment that manages to escape through the loopholes of the law. Advertisements pertaining to these concerns, often in explicit and highly suggestive wording, like 'Pals Wanted', are overtly published in some objectionable publications. To this, however, the authorities simply turn a blind eye. Hence the prevalence of these private brothels. Had their existence been in the form of 'red light area' permitted by law, with tax properly levied on them, I would not have said a word. But since the law does not provide room for their existence, their presence in the community simply gives their operators another chance of making money by exploiting members of the fair sex.
Of course, I do have other things which I want to say, but if Members have their doubts in this kind of advertisement, I would like to show them, the advertisements themselves, but after serious consideration, I am afraid my intention could be taken wrongly. That is why I am not prepared to show the advertisements. That is about all I want to say today. Finally, I would like to say that I support the motion.
(Dr. Denny HUANG and Mr. Howard YOUNG left during Mr. CHAN Chi-kwan's address.)
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese):----Mr. Chairman, Fellow Councillors, given this opportunity today to take part in the 10th Annual Conventional Debate, I must thank the electors for their support and encouragement, which give me the confidence to continue serving the community. I must also thank all my fellow Councillors for their advice, which has been so enlightening and will for ever be remembered.
I recall that at the conclusion of the Annual Conventional Debate last year, the Chairman mentioned in his answering speech: 'An extensive survey of the Council's central operation was completed by an independent management consultancy. A sub-committee is translating the recommendations into practical improvements to the administration . to make the new body a going concern.' I very much appreciate this innovation in administration. The framework of the Council is very delicate. For example, though the Council can decide on all kinds of expenditures, it has no right in either employing or dismissing any officer of the Urban Services Department which is the executive arm of the Council. So, where is the power of the Urban Council?
The White Paper on A Pattern of District Administration in Hong Kong will soon be published. The Urban Council is going to have 30 members, half elected and half appointed. Obviously there will be an increase of 3 elected members. The former request for an additional number of elected members has been answered, but it is not good news, for the now centralized power of the Urban Council will then be reduced or decentralized by the new system through devolution down to various districts instead.
In March 1983, the first district election will be held. In so doing, the Urban Council will only be the leader of the various District Boards and tend to fall apart. It has well been expected that the 7 large Districts, which will each take care of its district affairs, and the New Territories, which are not even within the Council's jurisdiction, will then give free rein to their power, quite unlike the present situation with 7 large Districts and 1 small District included under the Urban Council.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 82 of 120
131
Page 82 of 120
130
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
According to what the police have disclosed to the press, there were only a total of 26 such vice establishments in Wan Chai in the first half year of 1980, but then the number rose to 35 in the months from July to December 1980.
A so-called 'Fish Ball Stall' is in fact a vice establishment operated under the signboard of 'Fraternity Club', 'Recreation Club', 'Night Club' etc., or 'So & So Company-giving you 'entertainment' 24 hours a day'. Such is merely a palming-off tactic of the vice establishment operators to attract
customers.
I think all of you here find the name 'Fish Ball Stall' funny. Since it is not a place for you to eat 'fish ball', how come it is called 'Fish Ball' stall. To put it plainly, 'Fish Ball Stalls' are in fact vice establishments where teenage girls are provided for customers to satisfy themselves by fondling the body of the girls under dim lights. You can now realize what really is going on there! There is certain difference in sense when compared with the 'one-girl private brothel❜.
The report by the police further points out that in those establishments in Wan Chai, an average of 30-40 teenage girls are found every month, and most of them are aged 14 to 15. 60% of these girls are students, and most of the others are factory workers. Among these teenage girls, about one third have been reported missing. This shows the seriousness of the problem.
On the other hand, statistics reveal that the problem of school girls work- ing in vice establishments becomes all the more serious in the summer holidays. In that period, most of the girls found by the police during their raids are students.
Despite constant police efforts to weed out these vice establishments, only 10% were prosecuted with sufficient evidence, the rest of them manage to get off scot free for their operators know how to make use of the loopholes of the law. Thus new establishments keep cropping up to swell the existing procession. I, therefore, call upon the authorities to step up control in this area. Under the Protection of Women and Juveniles Ordinance, there should be no room whatsoever for the existence of such shameful Fish Ball' establishments.
(2) The 'one-girl private brothel' is but another kind of vice establish- ment that manages to escape through the loopholes of the law. Advertise- ments pertaining to these concerns, often in explicit and highly suggestive wording, like 'Pals Wanted', are overtly published in some objectionable publications. To this, however, the authorities simply turn a blind eye. Hence the prevalence of these private brothels. Had their existence been in the form of red light area' permitted by law, with tax properly levied on them, I would not have said a word. But since the law does not provide
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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131
room for their existence, their presence in the community simply gives their operators another chance of making money by exploiting members of the
fair sex.
Of course, I do have other things which I want to say, but if Members have their doubts in this kind of advertisement, I would like to show them, the advertisements themselves, but after serious consideration, I am afraid my intention could be taken wrongly. That is why I am not prepared to show the advertisements. That is about all I want to say today. Finally, I would like to say that I support the motion.
(Dr. Denny HUANG and Mr. Howard YOUNG left during
Mr. CHAN Chi-kwan's address.)
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese):----Mr. Chairman, Fellow Coun- cillors, given this opportunity today to take part in the 10th Annual Conventional Debate, I must thank the electors for their support and encouragement, which give me the confidence to continue serving the com- munity. I must also thank all my fellow Councillors for their advice, which has been so enlightening and will for ever be remembered.
I recall that at the conclusion of the Annual Conventional Debate last year, the Chairman mentioned in his answering speech: 'An extensive survey of the Council's central operation was completed by an independent manage- ment consultancy. A sub-committee is translating the recommendations into practical improvements to the administration . to make the new body a going concern.' I very much appreciate this innovation in administration. The framework of the Council is very delicate. For example, though the Council can decide on all kinds of expenditures, it has no right in either employing or dismissing any officer of the Urban Services Department which is the executive arm of the Council. So, where is the power of the Urban Council?
The White Paper on A Pattern of District Administration in Hong Kong will soon be published. The Urban Council is going to have 30 members, half elected and half appointed. Obviously there will be an increase of 3 elected members. The former request for an additional number of elected members has been answered, but it is not good news, for the now centralized power of the Urban Council will then be reduced or decentralized by the new system through devolution down to various districts instead.
In March 1983, the first district election will be held. In so doing, the Urban Council will only be the leader of the various District Boards and tend to fall apart. It has well been expected that the 7 large Districts, which will each take care of its district affairs, and the New Territories, which are not even within the Council's jurisdiction, will then give free rein to their power, quite unlike the present situation with 7 large Districts and 1 small District included under the Urban Council.
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