Appendix C.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS FOR THE YEAR 1919.
REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.
(Tables I and II.) REVENUE.
1. The revenue derived from all sources during the year was $21,430—less than that for 1918 by $5,247. The decrease was mainly due to the smaller issue of Chinese Boarding House Licences, Marriage Licences and to less Registration of Societies.
There were three items which showed increases, viz., Emigration Passage Brokers Licences, Certificates to Chinese entering the United States of America, and Official Signatures.
EXPENDITURE.
2. The total expenditure was $52,634 as compared with $50,117 in 1918 and fell short of the estimate by $4,517. The increase as compared with 1918 was due to stipulated increments and to the appointment of a 3rd Class Officer to act as Chief Assistant to Secretary for Chinese Affairs.
PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS.
(Table III.)
Women and Girls Protection Ordinance No. 4 of 1897. Po Leung Kuk Incorporation Ordinance No. 6 of 1893.
3. The number of persons detained under warrant and sent direct to the Po Leung Kuk during the year was 167 as compared with 138 in 1918; the action taken in each case (as also in those cases not decided at the end of 1918) is shown in Table III. The number of women whose detention was found unnecessary and who were allowed to leave after investigation was 81 or 48.5%, as compared with 89 or 64.5% in 1918; 61 were sent to their native places; 4 were restored to their relatives; 1 was released under bond;
while 7 cases were still under consideration on December 31st.
4. Three names were added to the list of girls under bond to report themselves annually, half-yearly or quarterly to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, a precaution taken to guard against their being forced into prostitution. The names of 5 girls were struck off the list; 1 of them was married and the other 4 were sent back to their relatives. The number of names on the list on December 31st, 1919, was 14 as compared with 16 on January 1st, 1919.