Focus
Hostesses stay away from clubs following police raids
By Zhang Yan (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-06-09 07:43
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University grads made good money as hostesses because they learned never to talk back, customer says
Hostesses have apparently disappeared from KTV and other entertainment venues, just weeks after police began an anti-vice crackdown in the city.
The operation has also resulted in a dramatically reduced flow of patrons to these venues.
At Heaven VIP Club, which is next to Passion Nightclub, a male staff member surnamed Wang told METRO the number of customers have been reduced by 40 percent.
"At this critical moment, there are no hostesses at all," he said. "Even if you offer more money, you will not get one."
But customers will not be stopped from bringing girls to the club, he said.
At the No 9 Spring Business Hotel, a manager, surnamed Yang, said the number of customers have dropped by 30 percent.
"Anyone wanting to check in must show their IDs, and massage girls are not allowed to enter guest rooms to provide services," Yang said. Notices of this are posted at each door.
On May 11, Chaoyang police raided entertainment places, including Passion Nightclub, No 8 Plaza KTV and Night Banquet Club. Some of the places were allegedly providing obscene shows and were believed to be shelters for prostitution.
During the raid, 557 hostesses were detained, including 118 from the Passion Nightclub.
The nightclub - one of the most famous in the city - has a reputation for 170 cm tall "pretty and elegant" hostesses, all 18 to 25 years old with high education, perfect figures and fair and delicate skin.
A man surnamed Su, who often visited Passion, told METRO many hostesses are university graduates, speak standard Mandarin and never quarrel with customers.
Even if they were angry, they would keep silent and smile at customers, Su said.
"Compared with the other hostesses, who always talk about house, car and brand-name clothes, they are more cultivated," he said. "They can cover topics from electric technology to history and culture, and even politics and finance."
Su said a private room at Passion can cost up to 5,000 yuan, with clients spending 20,000-30,000 yuan in one night in total.
Su said the last time he was there was in March when he went with three friends, including two real estate bosses from Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, and they spent 7,820 yuan.
They were greeted warmly by a "Mami", a woman in her 30s wearing a black suit, followed by five pretty girls for them to choose, based on appearances and even artistic talent, he said.
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Drinks are costly, Su said. Imported drinks, highly recommended by the Mami, would cost 3,600 to 20,000 yuan a bottle. Even a beer costs 70 to 80 yuan, and cocktails 200 yuan.
Su said the hostesses would accompany them in singing, drinking or playing dice. Many can dance, sing folk songs and play the piano or a zither-like instrument.
"Usually, the customers have relatively high status in society and wouldn't misbehave," Su said.
The girls are divided into three levels, based on education, looks and body shape, and talent in performing. Their tips range from 500 to 1,000 yuan.
Su said they paid 7,820 yuan, including 2,600 yuan for the VIP room with an additional 15 percent of service fee, 2,400 yuan in hostess fees, 4,000 yuan for drinks and 400 yuan for waiter services.
On June 5, 2010, Nanjing police raided their local entertainment places.
Business PolyGram Nightclub and Nanjing Red Cube KTV, which allegedly provided obscene shows and were believed to be shelters for prostitution, were all ordered to suspend business.
Over 100 suspects were arrested by police during the raid.
One day later, Guangzhou police also arrested 600 suspects in a downtown KTV center, five of which were involved in drug-related crimes.
The Beijing ongoing crackdown on prostitution will continue to the end of this year and will continue to make surprise inspections on KTV clubs, nightclubs and bathhouses.
He Angang, political commissioner from the public security division, told METRO a special police force will target five-star hotels, nightclubs, large KTV clubs and private top-end business and hot spring clubs.
He said if an entertainment place is found to provide obscene shows, organize prostitution or provide venues for prostitution, it could have its license revoked.
"These entertainment places are usually backed by criminal gangs. Carrying out the clean-up is conducive to fundamentally attacking these criminal groups," he said.
Last week, 35 city entertainment places, including the Heaven Earth nightclub, No 8 Club KTV, and Sunworld Dynasty Hotel KTV, were also closed for offences involving prostitution.
Around 1,100 people were detained during the one-month crackdown, which kicked off on April 11.