Viscountess ASTORasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will cause to be laid before the House the correspondence which has taken place between his Department and the Governor of Hong Kong on the subject of the mui tsai and of prostitution in that Colony?
Mr. THOMASIn view of the full statements which have already been made in the House on the subject of mui tsai, and of the steps which were decided upon for the abolition of the system, I hope that it will not be thought necessary to lay the correspondence before the House. A report on prostitution in Hong Kong was received last year, and should there be any general desire on the part of the House I will consider placing it in the Library. I feel sure that by associating these two subjects in her question the Noble Lady does not intend to lend support to a misconception and to convey an aspersion on the character of mui tsai.
Viscountess ASTORasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many maisons tolerees are recognised by the Government of Hong Kong in that Colony?