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Leprosy.-The Leper Asylum was visited regularly once a week by Dr. Ho. The total number of inmates was 27.
Plague. No cases were reported as having occurred during the year.
Staff.-Mr. Ho resigned at the end of the year and was succeeded by Mr. LAU LAI a licentiate of the Hongkong College of Medicine for Chinese.
EDUCATION.
The Committee that reported on Education in the Colony generally made certain recommendations with regard to the New Territory which have not yet been given effect to.
HARBOUR DEPARTMENT.
The Station at the Island of Cheung Chau was opened in September, the one at Tai O in the Island of Lantao, in October, 1899; that at Taipo in Mirs Bay, on board the Police Steam Launch, in January, 1900; that in Deep Bay, on board the Police Steam Launch, in November, 1901; and that at Sai Kung in April, 1902.
From 1st January to 31st December, 1902, 8,359 Licences, Clearances, Per- mits, &c., were issued at Cheung Chau; 3,390 at Tai 0; 3,253 at Taipo; 3,010 at Deep Bay; and 3,108 at Sai Kung.
The Revenue collected by the Harbour Department from the New Territory during 1902 was $13,896.05.
POLICE.
I attach a table showing the distribution of Police in the New Territory in 1902. (Appendix I.)
There were 14 Europeans, 96 Indians and 41 Chinese with 10 Boatmen stationed in the New Territory on land, and 6 Europeans, 35 Chinese doing duty in launches.
There was a very satisfactory decrease in serious crime as compared with 1901, the figures for the last four years being as follows:-
1899.
1900.
1901.
1902.
Gang Robberies,....
25
20
23
11
Boat and Junk Robberies,. Highway and Street Robberies,
5
5
8
3
12
7
4
3
Totals,
42
32
35
17
Police were employed, in addition to their ordinary Police duties, in collecting Crown Rent, and the Water Police have licensed boats and received the fees on be- half of the Harbour Master.
The new Stations at Sheung Shui and Tai O were occupied on the 19th May and 3rd November respectively.
The Chinese Force stationed on the border has continued active, and it is to a great extent due to its presence that there have been fewer incursions of robbers from over the northern boundary. Increasing appreciation of the presence of the 'Police is shown in the readiness with which reports of all sorts are made to them: although at times clan combinations and fear of revenge still make it difficult to elicit evidence.
CRIMINAL STATISTICS.
Returns of the number of cases brought before the Magistrates are appended. They show a satisfactory decrease in crime and especially in crime of a serious nature. (Appendix II.) j
Mr. HALLIFAX, the District Magistrate in the New Territories, reports that "though the number of cases brought before the Magistrates shews a reduction, "there is an ever increasing amount of work in the way of arbitration of disputes, nearly all of them trifling: questions of money, marriage and Fung shui are the “ most common. By far the greater number of these cases are fairly easily settled,
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as soon as it is possible to get down to the bed rock of facts: an outside decision
is all that is asked for without any reference to the sentimental points raised on
"both sides. Fung shui does at times give trouble: but in no case yet has either party been able even after a week or fortnight to give an idea of their case clear "enough for practical purposes."
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