HKG-CAR1904-1919 — Page 293

286

26

Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941

COLONIAL REPORTS—ANNUAL.

The City Hall receives an annual grant of $1,200 from Government. It contains a theatre, some large rooms which are used for balls, meetings, concerts, etc., a museum in which are some very fair specimens, and a large reference and lending library, to which new volumes are added from time to time, as funds will allow. The building was erected in 1866-9 by subscription.

Small grants are also given to the Italian Convent ($1,280), the French Convent (both of which take in and tend abandoned or sick infants), the West Point Orphanage, the Seamen's Hospital, and other charitable institutions.

The Chinese Public Dispensaries are institutions maintained in order to provide the Chinese with the services of doctors whose certificates will be accepted by the Registrar of Deaths, and with the services of interpreters who can assist the inmates of houses where a case of infectious disease has occurred. Coolies are engaged and ambulances and dead vans provided in order to remove cases of infectious disease to the Infectious Diseases Hospital and dead bodies to the Mortuary. The Dispensaries receive sick infants and send them to one or other of the Convents and arrange for the burial of dead infants. Free advice and medicine are given and patients are attended at their houses. There are eight Dispensaries in existence, including one for the boat population on a hulk in Causeway Bay. The total cost of maintenance, which is defrayed by voluntary sub- scription, was $39,392.09. The Dispensaries are conducted by committees under the chairmanship of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs.

VIII-CRIMINAL AND POLICE.

The total of all cases reported to the police was 12,011, being a decrease of 649, or 5-13 per cent., as compared with 1912. There was in 1913 a decrease in serious offences of 825, or 19-30 per cent., as compared with the previous year. The number of serious offences reported was 202 below the average of the quinquennial period commencing with the year 1909. The number of minor offences reported shows an increase of 176 as compared with 1912 and was 1,500 over the average of the quinquennial period.

*

The total strength of the Police Force in 1913 was Europeans 175, Indians 472, Chinese 576, making a total of 1,223 (as compared with 1,173 in 1912) exclusive in each case of the five superior officers and staff of clerks and coolies. These figures include police paid for by the Railway and other Government Departments and by private firms. Of this force 13 Europeans, 141 Indians and 48 Chinese were stationed in the New Territories during the year, under an Assistant Superintendent.

The District Watchmen Force, numbering 124, to which the Government contributes $2,000 per annum, was well supported by the Chinese during the year. These watchmen patrol the streets in the Chinese quarter of the City. They are placed on police beats and are supervised by the European police on section patrol.