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carrying on prostitution without being registered. The source of information
referred to by the Civil Surgeon in paragraphs 3 and 6 of his report is neces-
sarily closed to Police Officers and Magistrates. As to the information given by
registered prostitutes, some prostitutes who had been struck off the register and
left the town, and afterwards returned again, were discovered by this means. In
the majority of cases, however, on inquiry being made the information given was
found to be without foundation, and presumably dictated by spite.

       2. In one or two cases summonses were issued under the Act against Arakan-
ese women: these women, on proceedings being instituted, cleared out of the town,
and the chief object being thus attained matters were allowed to drop. If registra-
tion is to be effective at all, it is quite certain that the present system of supervi-
sion must be altered for the better. I doubt if this end would be attained by the
appointment of a special officer, but can offer no suggestion in its place.

       3. The attendance at the weekly examinations has been very regular. The
figures given in paragraph 8 of the report, showing the proportion of punish-
ments to cases reported, scarcely give a correct view of the matter. In the
majority of cases reported, the women had either been granted leave of private
examination, or had been permitted to leave Akyab, and there had been no time
to notify this to the Civil Surgeon before the date the next inspection came round.

       4. With regard to paragraph 5, I have no reason for believing that departures
were reported by the police which never took place. Where the neglect lay was
in the fact that when these women returned shortly afterwards, they were allowed to
be some time in the town without the fact of their return being notified to the
authorities.

       5. The report calls for no further remarks.