C 14 -
No. 24 of 1910.—The Lepers Ordinance. This Ordinance which provides for the segregation of lepers, etc., is recognised by the Chinese as a useful and reasonable measure. The Chinese are believers in the infectious nature of leprosy.
No. 28 of 1910.—The Magistrates Amendment (No. 2) Ordinance. This Ordinance places upon the male paramour the duty of ascertaining whether the woman whom he is charged with harbouring is married or not. It also empowers the Magistrate to award damages to the aggrieved husband.
INTERPRETATION SUB-DEPARTMENT,
Three student interpreters passed the examination for a third class certificate. Three received appointments in the Police Department. Five new student interpreters were appointed. Of the 43 student interpreters appointed under the present system, 9 are still student interpreters, 17 have third class certificates and 5 second class certificates. 12 are no longer in the Government Service.
Five meetings of the Interpretation Board were held. Twenty-six candidates were examined; one first class translator certificate, two second class interpreter certificates and three third class interpreter certificates were awarded.
GENERAL.
The 20th May, the day of the funeral of His late Majesty King Edward VII, was observed universally by the Chinese as a day of mourning. All shops and houses of entertainment were closed throughout the Colony; there were no hawkers to be seen in the streets and many jinrickshas ceased running. The signs of general mourning recommended by the Registrar General after consultation with the leading Chinese, were very widely adopted.
In June and July, representations were made by the District Watchmen Committee to the Registrar General regarding an increase in the number of Triad Societies and of bad characters, and it was asserted that a general feeling of insecurity prevailed. The Officer Administering the Government received the members of the Committee and heard their views and vigorous measures have been taken to free the Colony of undesirable people. In dealing with premises occupied by suspicious characters, frequent use has been made of Ordinance No. 3 of 1888, and 76 enquiries were held. 15 prosecutions were instituted and 13 convictions were obtained. (Table XXII.)
Nine appeals against the execution of banishment warrants have been received and investigated.
There have been several cases of children being carried off from their homes by armed robbers in China, and held to ransom in Hongkong.