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Annexe A.
Report on the work of the Po Loung Kuk for the year 1920.
The Po Leung Kuk Society was founded in 1878 to aid in the detection and suppression of kidnapping, especially of girls and wonen, 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 wouieu." 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-natron, amaks 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 affect- ing 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 muitsais, 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 houd 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 Committeo appointment by co-option, there is a Permanent Committee, which serves to maintain con- tinuity of policy, and of which the Secretary for Chinese Affairs is the ex-officio chairman.
The buildings and their inmates are visited every month by two unofficial Justices of the Peace, one English and one Chinese.
The following gentlemen were elected in March to serve as Manging Committee for the year :--
Kwok Siu-lau,
Tam Pak-shiu,
Chag Tin-san,
Leung Shu-tong,
Leung Tin-kwai,
Sham Chak-chic,
Wong Kwong-tin,
Ma Wing-chan.
Tae Ka-po,
Lam Hon-ping,
Twelve is the usual number of gentlemen on this Committee, but Mr. Wong Kwok-sun resigned after being elected and the vacancy was not filled,
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The number of inmates of the Po Leung Kuk on January 1st, 1920, was 62 and during the year 343 persons were admitted as against 476 in 1919. The circumstances of the admission and the action taken in regard to them are set out in Table A.
85 women and girls were committed onder warrant and 174 were admitted without warrant. Of the remainder 33 were lost children, 8 were accompanied by parents or guardiuns, and 43 were runaway maid-servants or " muitsai."
On leaving the Kuk 126 women and girls were restored to husbands or other relatives, 36 were sent to charitable institutions in China. 23 were given in adoption, 10 married, and 18 released under bond, 9 sent to the Italiau Convent. The number of inmates remaining in the Kuk on December 31st was 17.
The income and expenditure doring the year and the assets and liabilities of the institution are set out in Tables B und C attached.
The accounts of the Managing Committee in the customary form have been audited by Messrs. Sham Chak-chiu and Wong Kwong tin. The balance to the credit of the Society at the end of the year was $23,987 as compared with $23,305 at the end of 1919,
Mr. A. Mackenzie resigned the post of Visiting Justice of the Peace to the Po Leung Kok and his place was taken up by Mr. A. G. Coppin.
The institution was visited monthly by Justices of Peace, Messrs. A. Mackenzie, A. G. Coppin, and Chau Sia-ki, who on no occasion found cause for adverse comment. The average monthly number of inmates was 52.
The matron reports favourably on the conduct, health, and industry of the inmates during the year. There were 80 cases of sickness of which 13 were sent to the Tung Wa Hospital for treatment, and of these I died.
14th June, 1921.
S. B. C'. Ross, Secretary for Chinese Affairs, President.
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