517
(S)
Queen's College,--The total number on the roll for 1898 was 1,844, or 132 in excess of 1897. In order to make the accommodation equal as far as possible to the demand for admission, the rate of fees was increased from the 1st April. Over 120 boys had to be turned away owing to lack of accommodation. The total amount of fees was $21,593, being an increase of $8,138 upon the receipts for 1897, and more than double the receipts for 1896. Owing to various departmental economies, and to a reduction of $1,200 in the Crown Agents' account, the actual nett expenditure amounted to $16,303.91, as compared with $25,623.52 in 1897.
Two additional English masters and one native mathematical master were appointed during the year.
The results in the Oxford Locals showed marked improvement, the percentage of passes being 50 instead of 18 in 1897.
The Lower and Preparatory Schools were examined by the headmaster, and out of 350 boys, 257 or 83% passed. The Upper School was examined by independent examiners appointed by the Government, and showed satisfactory results.
IV. GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS.
(A.) Hospitals,--There are several hospitals in the Colony, of which only one, the Civil Hospital, is entirely a Government institution, though the Tung Wa Hospital is also under Government supervision. These, of course, are in addition to the military and prison hospitals. Further information as to the cases treated in the two hospitals named will be found under the head of Public Health (VII. B).
Among the patients treated by the Government Civil Hospital there were 469 deaths, of which 103 were British and foreign and 366 Chinese. 319 of the deaths recorded were due to plague. The Tung Wa Hospital treated 3,019 in-patients and 90,880 out-patients. The total number of deaths was 1,187, of which 243 were due to plague and 280 to phthisis. The percentage of deaths to admissions was 35.05, as against 35.24 in 1897 and 38.80 in 1896. It may be mentioned that the provision of free burial and the restoration of destitutes to their homes are regarded as two of the most important functions of this institution.
(B.) Asylum.--The Lunatic Asylum is managed in connection with the Government Civil Hospital and is divided into European and Chinese wards. There were 82 patients admitted in 1898, of whom 73 were cured and relieved. Six patients died during the year.
(C.) Poor Houses.--There is no poor house in the Colony, but the Tung Wa Hospital does good work in relieving and sending destitutes back to their native villages.
(9)
The Society co-operates with the Benevolent Societies of Canton, Macao, and other places, in restoring women and girls to their relations, and in other ways. No money grant is received from the Government.
VI.--JUDICIAL STATISTICS.
(A.) Police.--The total strength of the Police Force during 1898 was as follows:---
Europeans Indians Chinese Total 112 226 292 630Besides these there are a Captain Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent, a paymaster, three clerks, and 48 coolies.
This brings the total number of the entire staff up to 679.
Several rewards were granted to members of all three contingents for intelligence and promptness.
The Chinese constables, it is remarked, never appear to fail in courage.
Several of the staff were detailed for plague services. Seven of the Force died of plague during the year, but only one of these was on plague duty. Altogether there were 19 deaths, of which 12 were among the Chinese, 4 among the Europeans, and 3 among the Indians.
(B.) Prison.
The total number of prisoners admitted to Victoria Gaol in 1898 was 5,427, as compared with 5,076 in 1897. The daily average in the prison was 511, as compared with 462 in 1897. The offences of a criminal nature numbered 3,590; the offences of a non-criminal nature, 1,887. Offences against prison discipline numbered 4,038 as against 2,619 in 1897, being an increase of 2.24 per head of population. This increase is attributed by the Superintendent partly to the interruption of regular routine work and the placing of a larger number of prisoners in association during the structural alterations, and partly to numerous resignations in the Indian staff giving rise to the employment of inexperienced officers and consequent relaxation of discipline.
The capacity of the Gaol accommodation extends to 557 prisoners; yet on several occasions during 1898 it was found necessary to accommodate a slightly larger number, and on one occasion room had to be found for as many as 589. It is evident that with a growing population and the acquisition of New Territory the question of increasing the Gaol accommodation for the Colony will become a pressing one.
The prisoners are employed on productive labour, on unproductive labour, and on Gaol services, value of the productive labour and that utilised on prison services is returned at $9,919.45. The establishment consists of 29 Europeans and 44 Indians. Besides these there are a Superintendent, a Chief Warder, clerical staff, and servants.
(D.) Reformatories.--Hitherto there has been no properly organized Reformatory in Hongkong, but the Government has for some time been engaged in making arrangements for the establishment of such an institution in the near future.
A building has been generously presented by Mr. Bello, which is in course of construction, and should be ready for occupation before the middle of 1900.
(E.) The Hongkong Savings Bank, started on 1st May, 1885, is conducted by the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, and receives deposits from $1 up to $250 in any one day, with a maximum of $2,500 in any one year. The deposits bear interest at the rate of 3¼% per annum on the daily balance. Withdrawals are paid on demand, upon production of the pass-book by the account-holder, or his duly appointed agent.
The following figures will give an idea of its growth :-
On 30th June, 1886, the deposits amounted to $122,000.
On 30th June last there were over 3,000 accounts with a total of some $1,100,000, as against $900,000 on the corresponding date last year, and $800,000 in 1897.
Correspondence relating to business of the Hongkong Savings Bank, if marked "On Hongkong Savings Bank Business," is forwarded free of charge by the various British Post Offices in Hongkong and China.
(C.) Criminal Statistics.
The following table will show the total number of cases reported to the Police during each of the past five years ---
1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 INCREASE IN 1898 Serious Cases reported, 2,575 2,767 2,314 2,896 2,935 39 or 1.34% Bluor, 6,062 10,608 10,661 6,733 7,661 928 or 13.78% TOTAL 8,697 13,376 12,975 9,629 10,598 967 or 10.01%(F.) The Po Láng Kuk is a Society, under the supervision of Government, for the Protection of Women and Girls. The number of cases dealt with by the Society during 1898 was 412, which is 27 more than the previous year.
The receipts of the Working Committee amounted during 1898 to $5,054.17, and the expenditure came to $4,778.72, leaving a balance in hand of $275.45.
In "Serious" offences reported, the year 1898 shows an increase over 1897 in the following crimes: "unlawful possession" (38 cases), "larceny" (45 cases), "burglary" (11 cases), and "assault with intent to rob" (1 case). But against these increases must be set decreases in the following: "murder" (7), "robbery" (7), "kidnapping" (19), and "other felonies" (23).