January 1, 1931]
S.P.C.C. MEETING.
WORK OF SOCIETY
REVIEWED.
CREASING need of funds,
The first annual meeting of the Hong Kong Society for the Pro- | tection of Children was held on Tuesday at the City Hall and was largely attended. The President, Sir Shou-son Chow, in moving adoption of the report and counts, said:
President's Speech.
ac-
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT
the Magistrates, 172 had previously appeared in Court. In 1929 no fewer than 131 boys and 5 girls under 16 years of age were sent to prison.
We feel that much expense night be saved and much good done by binding over many of these youth ful offenders and appointing pro- bation officers who would keep them under observation, advise them and help them to lead honest lives.
Finances.
Turning to finance, I need only say that we started the tenth month of our existence with the very satis- actory balance of over $20,000. The expenses of the first nine months have been very small, being slightly under $1,400.
Mr.
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mittees, treasurer and secretaries named in this year's annual report were elected to their respective offices for the ensuing year, with the exception of Mr. A. Č. Hynes and Mr. B. D. F. Beith, whose places are to be filled by Mr. V. M.Gray- burn and the Hon. Mr. Paterson.
Messrs. Lee Yau Tsun and Fung Ping Shun were elected members of the Executive Committee.
A vote of thanks for the useful work contributed by the Chairman terminated the business of the meeting.
FIRST REPORT OF LOCAL
SOCIETY.
Honorary Secretaries, has express-Hong Kong Society for the Protec-
Prior, one of our joint
The first annual report of the ed his desire to resign. The work
tion of children states that the first
You will recollect that the Society was formed only at the end of last January, and when you review the work which has been done during the period covered by the report Inccessarily entails great demands on the Secretary's time, and I wish would ask you to bear in mind that the Society was
to express our thanks to Mr. Prior an entirely new Society and that we have to learn Society during the
for all that he has done for the
past
to walk before we can run.
to
The first tasks of the Executive Committee were
decide the methods by which the aims of the Society would best be achieved, and to collect the funds necessary for carrying out the work.
An appeal for support was made to a very limited number of per- sons, and so generous was the re- sponse that by the end of March over $15,000 had been contributed. I might say that practically every person appealed to contributed to the Society, which seems a clear in- dication that the public is keenly interested in the welfare of children.
Work of Inspector.
The Executive Committee con- sidered it essential that the Society should, as soon as possible, have an Inspector who could devote the whole of his or her time to the investigation of cases, and they thought it best to seek the services of a woman who had experience of child welfare matters. Some difficulty was experienced in finding the right type of person, but in August the Committee secured the services of Miss Seto Wai Sheung, who possesses excellent qualifica- tions, and whose work has been most satisfactory.
The number of cases is increasing cach month and is likely to continue to increase as the work of the Society becomes better known. Up to Christmas the total number was 39. The work of investigation is cumulative, as old cases have to be kept under supervision. It seems highly probable that by next sum-
shall require a
second
mer
we
Inspector.
Juvenile Courts. Our members have urged in the Legislative Council the need for special treatment of child delin- quents, and His Excellency the Governor has now appointed a Committee to report on the mea- sures required for the institution of Juvenile Courts. The Society has submitted to the Government draft Bill which indicates the mea- sures that we think necessary.
a
The Government is also taking active steps to secure the early in- stitution of an Industrial Home for boys.
The figures for the year 1929 show that of 985 boys who came before
year.
Those who have worked with him know the keen interest which he has shown, and I personally hope that he will continue to help a.s an active member of the Executive Committee.
The General Committee has asked Mr. Hazlerigg to join Mr. T. N. Chau as Hon. Secretary, and as it is with you it decide whether you will elect him, I will ask him now to address you and also to second the adoption of the Report and Balance Sheet.
object of the Committee was to raise
sufficient funds to admit of the
Society engaging the services of an Inspector. The Government con- tributed a sum of $3,000 and by the end of April the generous response of those to whom the Society appeal- ed for assistance produced a sum which justified the Committee in engaging an Inspector and equip- ping an office. In this connection the Committee particularly desires his handsome donation of $10,000. to thank Mr. Wai Shiu Pak for
Dealing with juvenile offenders, the Committee expresses the view that, though the imprisonment of some few incorrigible juvenile offenders may be inevitable, the im- ad-prisonment of youthful offenders in
general is wrong in principle.
Mui Tsai Problem. Mr. T. M. Hazlerigg also dressed the meeting and mentioned that the Society was interested in the welfare of the young, whether the child-was a mui tsai or not. The
Society was not formed to mitigate the mui tsai nuisance, as there was already an institution for this pur- pose, and that reports of maltreat- ment to little mui tsais would be attended to as in cases regarding other children.
Juvenile Courts.
be provided under the Bill for im- prisonment as now inflicted. The Committee has forwarded this Bill to the Government for considera- tion.
The Committee has had under consideration a Bill drafted by Mr. Hazlerigg making provision for the institution of Juvenile Courts, the segregation of youthful offen- ders before and during trial, the appointment of probation officers charged with the duty of supervis- Continuing, he said that there ing youthful offenders released on was quite a big field for the activi- probation, and the substitution of ties of the Society, and that pre-custody in a place of detention to vention of tuberculosis in children by providing well ventilated places and a sanatorum for victims might bc considered by the Society. He pointed out that in the annual re- port of the Inspector General of Police it was stated that there had been no less than 1851 cases of babies picked up in the streets. Such a state of affairs was quite alarming compared to other places in Europe, and he thought that the Society would do well to take steps to remove this evil, and that the subject should be gone into thoroughly, and investigations made as to why there had been such lack of registration of births and deaths. The report and accounts were duly seconded and passed animously.
The total number of cases inves- tigated between August 1 and November 14 was 27. These cases affected the welfare of 27 children
and involved 49 offenders or per- sons advised. In 26 cases parents were advised or warned, and in 11 of these the Inspector arranged for medical treatment, on several oc- casions accompanying the parents pital. No prosecutions were on their taking the children to hos-
sidered necessary.
The Inspector made 63 un-
vision visits.
Certain amendments to the rules and regulations of the Society were proposed and seconded and had the approval of members present.
Officers Elected. Proposals that H.E. Sir William and Lady Peel be re-elected patrons and that Sir Cecil Clementi be elected an hon. vice president met with the unanimous approval of the meeting.
The patrons, presidents, vice pre- sidents, general and executive com-
|
con-
super-
The Committee, while recognising the danger of indiscriminate relief, has felt it necessary to allocate certain funds in order to make provision for relief in urgent cases where there is dire poverty. Re- lief will be made in kind and no money given. The problem of ob- taining proper medical attention in cases of tuberculosis which require lengthy institutional treatment is one which presents the greatest difficulty.