In 1956, the "Taiwan Province Prostitu-tion Control Measure" was enacted, thereby incorporating prostitutes under government jurisdiction. Last year on September 6, the Taipei City Government (TCG) abolished licensed prostitution. Licensed prostitutes took to the streets in protest to fight for their right to work. The issue of licensed prostitution sparked confrontations between the TCG and Taipei City Council, as well as caused splits between various women's groups.

In the early hours of the morning on July 30, the City Council passed the motion to make the practice of the world's oldest profession illegal. In January, Councilors Chen Hsueh-sheng, Chin Hui-chu and others, requested that the city government abolish licensed prostitution. Taipei mayor Chen Shui-bian, responded on the spot by asking the council to abolish the "Taipei City Licensed Prostitution Control Measure." Come September 6, the practice of licensed prostitution would enter the annals of history.

At that time, the Bureau of Social Affairs was concerned that, as the average age of the licensed prostitutes was 40, after abolishing the practice, licensed prostitutes would not be able to change their trade. This would make it difficult for them to make a living.

As expected, this action gave rise to panic among licensed prostitutes. Licensed prostitutes collectively took to the streets, and requested city councilman Li Cheng-lung to help their cause. Their pleas affected people and many councilors, contrary to their previous position, changed their opinions and wanted to grant the licensed prostitutes a two year grace period.

The TCG, however, pointed out it had already disbursed more than NT$80 million in support funds to licensed prostitutes, offered assistance in changing their profession, and so was adamant about not reversing its decision. TCG spokesperson Ma Yung-Cheng pointed out that one should not confuse the issue by viewing licensed prostitutes as people in an economically weak position. The TCG announced that of the 128 licensed prostitutes in Taipei City, 58 had more than one piece of land and more than one house. Consequently, Chen Shui-bian emphasized that not all of the licensed prostitutes were disadvantaged.

Many licensed prostitutes feel the support offered by the city is inadequate and hope the city government will allow them to work for two more years. They do not want short-term help, but rather a degree of support that will safeguard their jobs. One licensed prostitute, "Kuan Chieh," who has the responsibility of paying her mother's medical fees, and who has incurred debts in excess of NT$2 million, frequently made public her experiences, and asked that "all you who have studied, you PhD holders, let us have our livelihood." Another licensed prostitute, "Hsiao Li," attempted suicide in protest.

Prostitutes like "Kuan Chieh" and "Hsiao Li" all had licenses. Every week they went to a public health clinic to be tested for venereal disease; once every two months they were tested for AIDS. Every year they had to attend a training course on how to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. So as to prevent epidemics, brothels strictly request customers to use condoms. After licensed prostitution was abolished, these protective measures naturally came to an end. However, this age-old profession will not necessarily vanish. In fact, on the second day after abolishing licensed prostitution, one formerly legal prostitute was arrested for soliciting.

Most of those who are opposed to the abolition of licensed prostitution sympathize with the position of the prostitutes and feel that it's impossible to completely ban this trade. With legalized prostitution there are at least some protective measures. Moreover, for many middle and lower-income men, prostitutes are their only sexual outlet. Many male clients took to the streets to support the prostitutes.

Licensed prostitution is already declining. There are only 55 legal brothels and 364 licensed prostitutes in Taiwan. In contrast there is no way to stem the tide of illicit prostitution.

Whether it's licensed or illicit prostitution, it would seem women's rights organizations all share a common view, namely, that prostitution is a product of patriarchy, justified by the patriarchal logic of male desire, and an exploitation of women. But the question of licensed prostitution, and how to maintain the dignity and the rights of women has given rise to controversy among women's groups.

The director of the Women's Aid Foundation, Shen Mei-chen, thinks that prostitutes not only go out and sell their bodies and their dignity, but that their income is seriously exploitative, and the existence of licensed prostitutes becomes camouflage for illicit prostitution. Abolishing licensed prostitution not only preserves people's dignity, but also, at the very least, decreases the number of prostitutes and of people who frequent brothels.

On the other hand, the director of the Awakening Foundation, Chang Chuan-fen, feels that women become prostitutes in order to meet their own economic needs. Abolishing prostitution will not protect prostitutes, but instead will result in an even higher exploitation. Where legalized prostitution has been abolished, underworld control over prostitutes is even stronger. He Chuan-jui of Central University thinks that those who want to abolish legalized prostitution perpetuate a "holier-than-thou" attitude. She notes that mainstream society has always treated prostitutes as those who need help, who need to be cleaned up; where, she asks, is the respect and the autonomy for those who are supposedly being helped?

The controversy has by no means ended, and steps taken toward abolishing prostitution have certainly not stopped. The TCG rejected the proposal to postpone abolishing prostitution for two years. Mayor Chen, in an unprecedented move, did not comply with the council's resolution and remained determined to abolish prostitution.

Under the city's self-rule code, there are no rules that stipulate the mayor has to resign if he or she does not accept the council's decision. Consequently, although the Taipei City Council extended the time period for the prostitute trade by two years, the TCG has begun arresting prostitutes for soliciting.

What will happen to Taipei's 128 licensed prostitutes? How should society deal with the reality of prostitution? There are still no solutions to these questions.

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In the Taipei City Council, Taipei Mayor Chen Shui-bian reiterated his determination to abolish licensed prostitution, offering information about the property owned by many prostitues to bolster his case. Many licensed prostitutes attended the session. They were angered by the report, and a scuffle resulted.