HOSPITAL DEATHS.
329
Table IV D contains a return of the number of deaths in hospital. They amounted to 1,623 or 34.62 per cent. of the total number of deaths registered during the year.
Table IV E gives particulars regarding the Tung Wa Hospital. The number of patients under treatment during the year was 2,896 as compared with 2,214 in the year 1896 and 2,840 in the year 1895. Of these 1,801 were discharged and 974 died. The percentage of deaths to admissions during the year is 35.24. In the preceding year the percentage was 38.80.
The number of out-patients during the year was:-
Males, Females,
76,464
40,162
116,626
This number is less by 13,069 than that for the year 1896.
REGISTRATION OF BOOKS.
(Ordinance No. 10 of 1888.)
66 books were registered during the year as compared with 34 in 1896. The usual quarterly returns were published in the Gazette.
REGISTRATION OF HOUSEHOLDERS.
(Ordinance No. 13 of 1888, Chap. III.)
Table VI gives particulars regarding the issue of householders' certificates.
PERMITS.
(Ordinance No. 3 of 1888, Chap. V.)
The nature and number of permits issued during the year were as follows:
To fire crackers,
To perform theatricals,
To hold processions,
To hold religious ceremonies,
412
5
30
25
472
SURETIES REFERRED FOR Report.
The number of sureties referred to this Department for report during the year amounted to 982 and were distributed as follows:-
Harbour Department,
Magistracy,
Police Department,
Botanical and Afforestation Department,
Supreme Court,
Total........
536
281
155
1
9
982
DISTRICT Watchmen.
A full statement of the revenue and expenditure for the year is given in Table VII 4, and the state of the force on the 31st December and other particulars will be found in Table VII B.
The District Watchmen were instrumental in bringing 260 cases before the Police Magistrate and the Committee is indebted to the Chinese newspapers, the Tsun Wan Yat l'ó and the Wai San Yat Pó, for continuing to publish weekly lists of these cases for the information of subscribers to the District Watchmen Fund.
Steps have been taken to bring the District Watchmen Force into closer touch with the Police Force by placing them on the Police beats under the supervision of the Inspectors and Sergeants on patrol duty. This arrangement has worked well and increased the efficiency and usefulness of the Force.
The contributions to the Fund for the year were $7,853.75 as compared with $7,543.45 for the preceding year. The actual expenditure was $9,528.78 as compared with $10,262.24. The balance to the credit of the Fund is $10,697.10. The loss on exchange, caused principally by the discount at which the Canton subsidiary coinage stands, was $61.18.
CHINESE RECREATION GROUND.
A statement of revenue and expenditure is given in Table VIII. year was $568.55. The revenue obtained from the rent of the shops, $1,510.86. There is a balance of $1,811.44 to the credit of the Fund,
The total expenditure for the letter-writers' tables, &c., was