300.
- K 18
The Special Constables are still enrolled and they number
The Second Institution connected closely with the Police which was inaugurated in 1927 was the General Charities Organization. It had been felt for some time that a central body which would represent all Charitable Institutions in the Colony and act as a general Information Bureau would be most desirable to prevent waste of funds and check the granting of promiscuous and often misplaced charity to the undeserving. As a result of the formation of the General Charities Organization, any unknown person appealing for help is now referred in the first place to the Honorary Secretary of the Association who holds the records of all persons who have received help during recent years, and no assistance beyond temporary board and lodging is granted until it is ascertained that the applicant is a deserving person. Although full information has not yet been forthcoming from all Charitable Institutions in Hong Kong, loafers and professional beachcombers, who prey on one society after another, have received a check, and it is hoped will be completely eliminated, if business firms and also private individuals will refer their cases to the General Charities Organization before distributing largesse to all and sundry.
The Organization consists of a representative from each Charitable Society which contributes towards the funds of the Organization, also a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer elected by these representatives. Government makes an annual grant of $500, which sum together with the annual contributions of the Charitable Associations represented in the Organization goes towards defraying the cost of a paid clerk who keeps the records and supplies the required information on all applicants for Charity who are known to the Organization. Residents of the Colony in receipt of regular help from any particular Charitable Association do not come within the scope of the General Charities Organization and their names are not sent forward for inclusion in the General Charities Organization General Register. Their cases are dealt with privately by the Institutions concerned.
ANNEXES.
WATER POLICE.
Details concerning the Water Police are contained in Annexe A.
RECRUITING AND POLICE TRAINING SCHOOL.
Details concerning recruiting and the Police Training School will be found in Annexe B.