C 6
(e.) Ocean Island.-One application was received and the case is still under negotiation. This is the first case of redemption applied for since emigration to Ocean Island started in 1920.
19. Seven (7) passage brokers' licences at $200 each were issued under the Emigration Ordinance No. 30 of 1915.
20. Classification of emigrants by the language spoken is given in Table V.
THE BOARDING HOUSE ORDINANCE.
No. 23 of 1917.
21. Under this Ordinance Chinese Boarding Houses are divided into seven classes for the purpose of licensing and regulation.
22. Class 1, Chinese Hotels.-These are run very much on the lines of European Hotels, and are licensed for the sale of alcohol. There are only two houses of this class in the Colony, the Great Eastern and the Stag. Both applied for and were granted fresh licences after October 31st.
23. Class II, First Class Hak C.-These are large boarding houses, which cater principally for independent emigration and interport passenger business. During the year there was no new Boarding House of this class opened and none closed. At the end of the year there were 18 houses in existence all of which had renewed their licences. The lawful accommodation provided by these 18 houses is 2,907 as against the figure 2,850 for 18 houses of the year 1920.
24. Class III, Second Class Hak U.-These are small boarding houses for independent emigration mostly to and from the Straits Settlements and Java ports. During the year no new houses were opened nor any existing ones closed. The number of houses at the end of the year was 21 with lawful accommodation for 1,426 persons as compared with 1,396 provided for by the same 21 houses in 1920.
These three classes of Boarding Houses have done good business during the year owing to the great increase of emigration due to the reduction in passage rates by the competition of ships running and also because of the increased number of political passengers travelling between North and South China.
25. Class IV, Boarding Houses for Assisted Emigrants.- These houses are mainly used by assisted emigrants and their recruiters, who may not, while in this Colony, be lodged in any other place. During the year 11 assisted Boarding Houses were closed and 13 new ones opened. Most of these latter were only opened for a short time to cope with particular batches of emigrants such as that for Samoa and Ocean Island as the law requires. At the end of the year there were in existence 14 houses with accommodation for 908 men, as compared with 12 houses with accommodation for 673 men at the end of 1920.