359
—
DISTRICT WATCHMEN.
A statement of revenue and expenditure for this fund during the year is given in Table VI (A.), and the state of the force on the 31st December, and other par- ticulars will be found in Table VI (B). 338 convictions were obtained before the Police Magistrate during the year through the instrumentality of District Watch- men. The contributions to the Fund for the year were $22,495.29 as compared with $17,461.69 in 1902, being an increase of $5,033.60.
This is due chiefly to the increased rate at which contributions are paid. The increase came into force in July, 1902.
The expenditure for the year was $17,540.37. Included in this sum are $3,000 a refund of a Government loan, $1,372.39 for uniform and equipment, $435.83 for loss on exchange. The balance to the credit of the Fund on the 31st December was $12,415.05.
The purchase of two houses at West Point for the use of a District Watchmen House has been approved by the Government, and the grant of a site at Wanchai for a District Watchmen House for the Eastern District has been recommended to the Secretary of State.
An increase was made to the pay of all ranks on the 1st January.
Ninety-three applications for the post of District Watchman were received during the year. The force now consists of 82 men, the satisfactory state of the finances having permitted of an inerease of 13 men.
On the day of his departure from the Colony, H. E. Sir HENRY BLAKE inspected the District Watchmen and was pleased to commend the Force for the assistance it rendered in maintaining peace and good order in the Colony.
CHINESE RECREATION GROUND,
A statement of revenue and expenditure is given in Table VII. The total expenditure for the year was $508.27. The revenue obtained from the lease of shops, &c. was $1,359.82, compared with $1,257.02 in 1902. The balance to the credit of the Fund is $4,519.75.
CHARITABLE FUNDS.
Tables VIII and IX give a statement of account of two Funds administered by this Department.
TUNG WA HOSPITAL.
The new wing of the hospital in Taipingshan was opened on the 26th March. The Infectious Diseases Hospital at Kennedy Town was opened on the 6th June, but a laundry and some other out-biuldings are not completed owing to difficulties with the contractor. The work will be finished by next June. The financial posi- tion of the hospital is much more satisfactory than it was two years ago. An in- fluential Committee was appointed in 1902 to enquire into and report on the finan- ces of the hospital, and with its support it has been found possible to considerably increase the amount of subscriptions and the revenue from the hospital's property. Hitherto the only annual subscribers to the hospital have been the various guilds, but on the recommendation of the Finance Committee a new departure was made and individual subscriptions invited. In answer to the appeal 35 gentlemen have promised subscriptions of a hundred dollars a year and 19 of fifty. A welcome addition to the revenue of the hospital has been made by the Government grant of $6,000 a year.
Table IV (E) gives a return of Patients under treatment and other statisties concerning the Tung Wa Hospital during the year 1903.
LEGISLATION.
The following are the Ordinances passed in 1903 which more particularly affect the Chinese and this office :-
No. 1 of 1903.-The Public Health and Buildings Ordinance.
No. 5 of 1903.-The Stowaways Ordinance.
No. 6 of 1903.-The Foreign Marriage Ordinance.
No. 10 of 1903.-The New Territories Rent Recovery Ordinance.
No. 19 of 1903.-The Magistrates (Amendment) Ordinance.
No. 23 of 1903.-The Public Health and Buildings Amendment Ordinance.