The Po Leung Kuk Society was founded in 1878 to aid in the detection and suppression of kidnapping, especially of
54 girls and women, and to shelter such girls or women as had been kidnapped in the interior and brought to Hong Kong for sale or emigration. Its name means "institution for the
protection of good women" The initiative in its formation came for the Chinese themselves, and ever since by subseription
and personal service, they have continued to support it.
There is a paid Chinese staff-matron, amnahs and nurses, and two clerks who are secretaries to the managing
committee. This Committee meets every evening from Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. the principal meeting of the week being held at 12 noon on Sunday. It not only manages the Po Leung Kuk, but acts as an advisory committee to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, in all cases affecting women and children, and Chinese family life generally, which are often extremely difficult and tedious. It corresponds when necessary with charitable
institutions and private persons in various parts of China,
traces parents of lost children or ill-treated mui-tsai, and shelters for the night any Chinese woman or girl who chooses
to go.
When parents or relations cannot be traced, the Committee arranges for the girls in its care to be given in marriage never as concubines) or in adoption, always under
́bond and always with the consent of the Secretariat for Chinese
Affairs which in every case ascertains the girl's willingness
before giving consent either to adoption or to marriage.
In addition to the annual Committee appointed by
co-option there is a Permanent Committee, which serves to
maintain continuity of policy, and of which the Secretary
for Chinese Affairs is the ex-officio chairman.