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Annexe A.
Report on the work of the Po Leung Kuk for the year 1925.
The Po Leung Kuk Society was founded in 1878 to aid in the detection and suppression of kidnapping, especially of girls and women, and to shelter such girls or women as had been kidnapped, in the interior and brought to Hongkong for sale or emigration. Its name means "institution for the protection of good women". The initiative in its formation came from the Chinese themselves, and ever since, by subscription and personal service, they have continued to support it.
There is a paid Chinese staff—matron, amahs and nurses, and two clerks who are secretaries to the managing Committee. This Committee meets every evening from Monday to Friday at 7 p.m.; the principal meeting of the week is held at 12 noon on Sunday. It not only manages the Po Leung Kuk, but acts as an advisory committee to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, in all cases affecting women and children, and Chinese family life generally, which are often extremely difficult and tedious. It corresponds when necessary with charitable institutions and private persons in various parts of China, traces parents of lost children or ill-treated mui tsai, and shelters for the night any Chinese woman or girl who chooses to go.
When parents or relations cannot be traced, the Committee arranges for the girls in its care to be given in marriage (never as concubines) or in adoption, always under bond and always with the consent of this office; and in every case this office ascertains the girl's willingness before giving consent to either adoption or marriage.
In addition to the annual Committee appointed by co-option there is a Permanent Committee, which serves to maintain continuity of policy, and of which the Secretary for Chinese Affairs is the ex-officio chairman. Messrs. Kwok Siu Lau, Tong Yat Chun and Li Kik Mui were appointed to this Committee to fill the vacancies caused by the deaths of Messrs. Chiu Chau Sam, Chan King Wan and Chau Siu Ki.
The following gentlemen were elected in March to serve as Managing Committee for the year:-
Lei Yik Mui, Wong Mau Lam,
Yu Yat U,
Au Long Hin,
Lau Yuk Wan,
Tong Hok Ting,
Lei Yiu Tong, Ho Wa Sang,
Wong Man Wai, Lo Chap San,
Tam Wun Tong, Wong Yun Tong.
The number of inmates of the Po Leung Kuk on 1st January, 1926 was 61, and during the year 259 persons were admitted as against 412 in 1924. The circumstances of admission and the action taken in regard to them are set out in Table A.