343
25
In 1873. The deaths amongst the British and Foreign Community deducting strangers were 122 and amongst the Chinese 2,576. Making a liberal deduction for women and children and persons having no property whatever, the number of cases in which Probate or Letters of Administration were applied for 53 seems to me to be out of all proportion.
In subsequent years the same remarks apply.
In 1874 there were 129 deaths amongst the British and Foreign Community and 3,605 amongst the Chinese. There were 74 applications for Probates and Letters of
Administration.
In 1875, there were 129 and 2,975 deaths respectively amongst the British and Foreign and the Chinese Community, and 73 applications for Probates and Letters of Administration.
In 1876 the number of deaths were 114 and 3,281 and 90 applications for Probate, &c.
.108 and 3,569. 60 applications.
In 1877,
In 1878,
.117
**
In 1879,
37
57 3,951.
.111 4,310. 65
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In 1880,
31
.150 3,846. 78
11
In 1881,
33
.111 3,685. 101
33
In 1882, to June 30, .
46
As Official Trustee besides the Trust Estates consisting of money which the Registrar has to administer, there are Estates consisting of Land and House property which he has to manage and from which he has to collect the Rents &c.
Upon the money or value of property received by the Registrar as Official Trustee the Commission chargeable is on each Estate 2 per cent. on the first $10,000, and 1 per cent. beyond. I do not think that this is sufficient remuneration for the work done which is for receiving, investing, receiving income and distributing amongst parties entitled, and I think that a Commission of at least one per cent. upon annual receipts should be charged.
According to the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce scale, the Commission charged upon paying and receiving money is one per cent. upon current account, and managing estates and collecting rents five per cent.
As Registrar of Companies he has to register such documents as are required by Ordinance No. 1 of 1865 and subsequent Ordinances.
Books for the purposes of Registration have to be kept and a considerable number of entries are made every year.
The Registrar would I presume be appointed Official Liquidator under the Joint Stock Companies Ordinances in case no competent person were willing to undertake