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convicted. Of these, 954 boys and 263 girls were convicted of hawking offences, which in the case of juveniles almost always means hawking without a licence. The corresponding figures for the previous year are 1,022 and 184.
13. The number of charges and defendants dealt with in Hong Kong and Kowloon in 1934 constitutes a record in the history of the Colony: the total number of defendants was 56,870 as against 48,618 last year. The increase of cases is accounted for entirely by head (g), "offences against public morals and police," the principal increases being under the items of obstruction, traffic, and, in Hong Kong, hawkers' offences. Opium and revenue cases have diminished markedly.
14. To cope with the work it was found necessary to increase the number of magistrates; and during the year officers of the Cadet Service were appointed to the position of Magistrate and First Clerk in both Magistracies.
15. Proceedings were taken under the Extradition Acts against four persons for crimes committed outside the Colony. Of these, one was committed to prison to await the Order of H.E. the Governor and the others were discharged.
16. Summonses under the Married Women (Desertion) Ordinance, 1905, in Hong Kong numbered four as against three in 1933. No order was made. In Kowloon these summonses numbered four as against six in 1933. In one of them an order was made.
31st March, 1935.
W. SCHOFIELD, First Police Magistrate.