1887-1903
COLONIAL REPORTS-
ANNUAL.
(C.) Poor Houses.
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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.
(D.) REFORMATORIES.
Hitherto there has been no properly organized reformatory in Hong Kong, 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. Belilios, which is in course of construction, and should be ready for occupation before the middle of 1900.
(E.) SAVINGS Banks.
The Hong Kong Savings Bank, started on 1st May, 1885, is conducted by the Hong Kong 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 3 per cent. 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.
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Correspondence relating to business of the Hong Kong Savings Bank, if marked "On Hong Kong Savings Bank Business," is forwarded free of charge by the various British post offices in Hong Kong and China.
(F.) SOCIETY FOR PROTECTION OF WOMEN and Girls.
The Po Leung 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. 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.