303
Five hundred and twenty-two Removal Certificates were granted for the removal of dead bodies from the Colony.
EXHUMATIONS.
Ninety-seven permits were issued to exhume human remains for removal to China or for re-burial in the Colony.
HOSPITAL DEATHS.
Table IV D contains a return of the number of deaths in hospital. They amounted to 1,725 or 30.40 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 3,019 as compared with 2,896 in the year 1897. Of these, 2,029 were discharged and 842 died. The percentage of deaths to admissions during the year was 35.05. In 1897 the percentage was 35.24, and in 1896, 38.80. The death-rate is thus steadily decreasing.
The number of out-patients during the year was :-
Males, Females,.
Total,...............
62,576
.28,304
...90,880
A slight alteration has been made in the form of this return (Table IV E); the columns formerly reserved for Private Paying Patients and which for four years have stood blank are struck out, whilst room is found for the number of vaccinations performed during the year, the number of bodies buried, and the number of destitutes temporarily housed and fed. The provision of free burial and the restoration of destitutes to their homes are regarded as two of the most important functions of an institution like the Tung Wa Hospital.
REGISTRATION OF BOOKS.
(Ordinance No. 10 of 1888.)
Eighty books were registered during the year. Of these, 33 were published at Nazareth and five, written in Chinese, dealt with modern subjects.
The large number of text books of English and English-Chinese Dictionaries published are evidence of the increased attention now being paid by Chinese to the study of the English language.
The number of books published is increasing year by year. In 1897 it was 66, and in 1896, 34. The usual quarterly returns were published in the Gazette.
REGISTRATION OF HOUSEHOLDERS.
(Ordinance No. 13 of 1888 Chap. III.)
Table V 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 hold processions,
To perform theatricals,
To hold religious ceremonies,.
***.420
11
29
14
Total,...
......474
Several of the processions were held to avert the plague.
SURETIES REFERRED FOR REPORT.
The number of sureties referred to this Department for report during the year amounted to 829 and were from the following Departments :-
Botanical and Afforestation Department,
Harbour Department,
Magistracy,
Police Department,
5
.561
50
.213
Total.......
.......829