113
(.) LUNATIC ASYLUM.
The Asylum is under the direction of the Superintendent of the Civil Hospital. European and Chinese patients are separate, the European portion containing 8 beds in separate wards and the Chinese portion 16 beds. 178 patients of all races were treated during 1905, and there were 8 deaths.
(c.) THE TUNG WAH HOSPITAL.
This Hospital, opened in 1872, is mainly supported by the voluntary subscriptions of Chinese, but receives an annual grant of $6,000 from the Government. Only Chinese are treated in this institution which takes the place of a poor-house and hospital for Chinese sick and destitute, and is administered by an annually-elected body of 15 Chinese directors. Chinese as well as European methods of treatment are employed in accordance with the wishes expressed by the patients or their friends. The Hospital is managed by a Committee of Chinese gentlemen annually elected, their appointment being submitted to the Governor for confirmation.
VII.-INSTITUTIONS NOT SUPPORTED BY GOVERNMENT.
Among institutions recognised and encouraged but not to any considerable extent sup- ported by Government may be mentioned the Pó Leung Kuk, the College of Medicine for Chinese, and the City Hall.
The Pó Leung Kuk is an institution, incorporated in 1893, presided over by the Regis- trar-General and an annually-elected Committee of 12 Chinese gentlemen, for the protection of women and children. The inmates of the Home receive daily instruction in elementary subjects and are allowed to earn pocket-money by needle-work. During 1905, a total of 528 persons were admitted. Of these, 143 were released after enquiry, 19 were released under bond, 99 were placed in charge of their husbands, parents or relations, 3 were placed in charge of the Japanese Consul, 84 were sent to charitable institutions in China, 52 were sent to School, Convent or Refuge, 15 were adopted, 60 were married and 3 died.
The Hongkong College of Medicine for Chinese was founded in 1897, for the purpose of teaching surgery, medicine, and obstetrics to Chinese. The government of the College is vested in the Court, of which the Rector of the College, who has always been a Government official, is President. Ninety-five students have been enrolled up to the end of 1905, and of these 24 have become qualified licentiates and have obtained various posts under Government and elsewhere. The institution is of great value in spreading a knowledge of Western me- dical science among the Chinese; and in addition to the employment of certain of the licen- tiates in the public service, the senior students have frequently been made use of for various purposes during epidemics. A Government grant-in-aid of $2,500 is made to the College, to be used as honoraria to the lecturers.
The City Hall receives an annual Grant of $1,200 from Government. It contains a Reference Library and Museum.
VIII
CRIMINAL AND POLICE.
The total of all cases reported to the Police was 11,517 being a decrease of 295 or 2.49 per cent. over those reported in 1904. In the division of these cases into serious and minor offences there is a decrease in the former as compared with the previous year from 3,532 to 2,984, that is of 15:51 per cent., occurring in every nature of crime with the exception of assault with intent to rob.
The number of serious offences reported was 772 below the average of the quinquennial period commencing with the year 1901.
The number of minor offences reported shows an increase of 253 over the number for 1904, mainly in offences against the Spirits and Prepared Opium Ordinances.
The number of minor offences reported was 1,454 over the average of the quinquennial period.
The total number of persons committed to Victoria Gaol was 6,323, as compared with 7,464 in 1904, but of these only 2,816 were committed for criminal offences, against 4,027 in 1904. Of committals for non-criminal offences there were 121 more under the Prepared Opium Ordinance and 132 less for infringement of Sanitary Bye-laws.