C.2 -
Towards the end of the year an attempt was made to regulate the traffic in infants with the Straits. It is practically impossible to interfere where the children are more than a year old, but when they are or should be at the breast and are fed during the voyage on tinned milk by ignorant women whose interest in them is purely venal, great suffering and frequent deaths ensue. This traffic which comes chiefly from the Tung Kun district, and is fed largely by children who would otherwise have gone to the Convent there, has been checked. The Po Leung Kuk suffered from a slight out-break of Beri-beri; there were 4 cases, and one whole floor had to be closed for over 2 months. This caused some overcrowding. The accommodation is barely sufficient for the needs of the Colony. Under a new matron, and thanks largely to the energy of the Directors and especially Mr. Ho Kom-tong, the home is beautifully clean, and the girls look bright and contented. Needlework and lessons give them a great deal of pleasure, and the introduction of an unusual number of babies has given a joyous occupation to the inmates. The absence of a recreation ground worthy of the name is a serious drawback. Table III shows the wide usefulness of the Home, a report of which is given in Appendix A.
During the year, 181 persons were reported to the Po Leung Kuk as missing, as compared with 205 in 1907. Of these, 48 were subsequently reported as having been found. These figures include persons missing from the neighbouring parts of China and from Macao. The actual figures for Hongkong are, Missing 91; reported as Found, 39.
The Eyre Diocesan Refuge, which owes its inception to Miss Eyre, and was for some years conducted by her and her fellow workers, has now been reorganized as a Diocesan Institution of the English Church in Hongkong. It thus acquires a stability so often wanting in the private undertakings of the Colony. This change has been largely due to the action of Lady Lugard, who very shortly after her arrival in the Colony interested herself actively in the Refuge, secured a wider support for it, and generally stimulated its development.
The Refuge has been visited by the Annual Committee of the Po Leung Kuk at intervals during the year, and I have paid surprise visits. The girls appear happy and well cared for. The number of inmates has varied from 35 to 38; the general health has been good and no deaths have occurred. There have been 23 admissions and 6 marriages. The home was under Chinese management (with European supervision) until November when a European lady took up residence.
The Italian Convent continues to do good work. Fourteen women and girls were taken there during the year, including 5 who went there of their own accord.
3.-Emigration.
Emigration Ordinance, No. 1 of 1889.
(See Tables IV and V.)
(i.)-Female Emigration.
The examination of females and children under 16 is conducted by the Assistant Registrar General, the Registrar General re-examining doubtful cases.
Of the 226 persons detained as given in the first paragraph of the previous section of this report, 62 were intending female emigrants, as compared with 49 last year. Of these, the numbers permitted to leave, that is those unnecessarily detained, was the same, 10. There is no hardship in most of these cases, as they generally involve only half an hour's questioning at the Po Leung Kuk on the evening of detention, and if the result is satisfactory the women are free to leave as they had originally intended, next day. As a rule doubtful cases are sufficiently met by a note on the passage list for the information of the Protector of Chinese, Singapore.
Table IV shows that over 9,000 female passengers passed through the office. The 10 needlessly detained are only one in 900. It also shows a very considerable reduction in female emigration as compared with last year. This is another symptom of the general trade depression dealt with in Part 19 below.
The proportion of women who go abroad to join husbands (about 33 per cent.), as servants (33 per cent.), with relations (25 per cent.), prostitutes (7 per cent.), remains nearly constant.