1920-1930
HONGKONG, 1922.
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some very fair specimens, and a large reference and lending library, to which new volumes are added from time to time, as funds will allow. The building was erected in 1866-69 by subscription.
Small grants are also given to the Italian Convent, the French Convent (both of which take in and tend abandoned or sick infants), the West Point Orphanage, the Seamen's Hospital and other charitable institutions.
The Chinese Public Dispensaries are institutions maintained in order to provide the Chinese with the services of doctors, whose certificates will be accepted by the Registrar of Deaths, and with the services of interpreters, who can assist the inmates of houses, where a case of infectious disease has occurred. Coolies are engaged and ambulances and dead vans provided in order to remove cases of infectious disease to the Infectious Diseases Hospital and dead bodies to the Mortuary. The Dispensaries receive sick infants and send them to one or other of the Convents and arrange for the burial of dead infants. Free advice and medicine are given and patients are attended at their houses. There are eight Dispensaries in existence. The total cost of maintenance was $47,801 for the year 1922. The Government makes an annual grant of $7,000, and the rest of the cost is defrayed by voluntary subscription. The Dispensaries are conducted by committees under the chairmanship of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs.
VIII-CRIMINAL AND POLICE.
The total of all cases reported to the Police was 13,939, being an increase of 1,697 or 13.86 per cent. as compared with 1921. There was in 1922 an increase in serious offences of 130 or 3.15 per cent. as compared with the previous year. The number of serious offences reported was 38 below the average of the quinquennial period commencing with the year 1918. The number of minor offences reported shows an increase of 1,567 as compared with 1921, and was 2,561 over the average of the quinquennial period.
The total strength of the Police Force in 1922 was: Europeans 185, Indians 431, Chinese 762, making a total of 1,381 exclusive of the six superior officers and staff of clerks and coolies. These figures include police paid for by the railway and other Government departments. Of this force 17 Europeans, 118 Indians, and 57 Chinese were stationed in the New Territories during the year.
The District Watchmen Force, numbering 102, to which the Government contributes $2,000 per annum, was well supported by the Chinese during the year. These watchmen patrol the streets in the Chinese quarter of the City. They are placed on
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