HONGKONG.
REGISTRAR GENERAL'S REPORT FOR 1896.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.
229
No. 16
REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 10th May, 1897.
1
SIR,I have the honour to forward herewith for Your Excellency's information my report on the work of this department for the year 1896.
REVENUE.
The revenue collected during the year amounted to $97,620.61 or $4,699.61 more than that for the preceding year, notwithstanding that three items viz. :-the rent of the cattle-shed, the rent of five houses in New Street and the rent for the wooden huts on the Praya Reclaination at West Point which brought in a revenue of $2,889.00 in the year 1895 no longer appear. The chief increase, $5,884.16, occurs under the head of Markets and of this $5,277.69 are derived from the Central Market. The rent received from this building for the year was $36,838.20. The revenue from boat licences also shows an increase of $1,094.20. A small income is derived from fees for the issue to Chinese of certificates of identity for the purpose of entering the United States.
EXPENDITURE.
The actual expenditure in 1896 under personal emoluments, including exchange compensation and other charges, was $15,263.14 as compared with $18,585.13 in 1895, and $22,489.84 in 1894.
PÓ LEUNG KUK INCORPORATION ORDINANCE.
(No. 18 of 1893.)
WOMEN AND GIRLS' PROTECTION ORDINANCE.
(No. 11 of 1890.)
Particulars regarding the work done during the year by the Pó Léung Kuk Society are contained in the Society's Annual Report which is published separately. The Committee acts in complete harmony with this office and its services towards the good work of rescuing women and restoring them to their homes remain indispensable.
A
The number of women and girls detained during the year under Part II. of Ordinance 11 of 1890 was 241. This is a large increase on the number detained in the previous year. Table II 4 shows how each case was dealt with. The number of girls under the protection of the office under section 19 of the Ordinance is 57, (See Table II B). 67 women and girls were reported to the Pó Léung Kuk as having disappeared in Hongkong, (See Table II C). Of these only 11 were recovered. number of the women no doubt absconded but among the 67 were 25 girls who disappeared and not having been found again were in all probability kidnapped. In my report for last year I referred to the large increase of "sly" brothels in the town and to the views held by the Chinese on the subject. The number has still further increased much to the disgust of respectable Chinese, but no private individual will take the necessary steps to suppress the evil, by appearing as a prosecutor in Court, though any action taken by the Government would be welcomed.
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EMIGRATION.
Only 8,686 female passengers were examined at the Emigration Office and permitted to proceed on their voyage, as compared with 11,008 in the previous year, (See Table III). The decrease is caused by quarantine regulations imposed during the plague.
Emigration of Chinese to the United States has been facilitated by the recognition by the Government of that country in the case of residents in Hongkong of certificates of identity signed by Registrar General as prima facie evidence of the right of the holders under the Laws and Treaties in force to enter the country. A fee of three dollars is charged for each certificate.