C 4
15. At the end of the year there were 157 Boarding Houses of all classes as against 493 at the end of 1936. During the year 10 new licences were taken out and 7 licences were cancelled.
16. One conviction was obtained under the Ordinance as compared with 4 in 1936.
PERMITS.
(Ordinance 40 of 1932).
(Ordinance 22 of 1919).
17. 3,383 permits to fire crackers were issued, of which 2,644 were for weddings and the remainder for birthdays, shop-openings, etc. Sixty-six permits were issued for theatrical performances.
18. Other permits issued were twenty-five for religious ceremonies and twenty-nine for processions.
REGISTRATION OF BOOKS,
(Ordinance 2 of 1888).
19. Fifty-two books were registered during the year as compared with forty-three in 1936.
REGISTRATION OF NEWSPAPERS.
(Ordinances 25 of 1927 and 1 of 1930).
20. The number of registered Chinese newspapers on December 31st was thirty-nine, of which five were registered during the year.
DISTRICT WATCH FORCE.
(Ordinance 23 of 1930).
(Tables VII & VIII).
21. The District Watch Committee met on eleven occasions at the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs. In addition, three meetings at which His Excellency the Governor presided were held at Government House. The following gentlemen served on the Committee throughout the year:-
Mr. Li Yau-tsun, C.B.E.
Hon. Sir Shouson Chow, Kt.
Mr. Wong Iu-tung.
Hon. Dr. R. H. Kotewall, C.M.G., LL.D.
Mr. Li Po-kwai.