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legislation on the subject has been long recognized, and is shewn by the fact that at the present moment there are nearly 200 girls of tender age who are being taken care of under the direction of the Registrar General, assisted by the Po Léung Kuk, and who, but for that care, would probably be consigned sooner or later to a life of infamy. The powers which the Registrar General possesses are however considered inadequate for the purpose in view. Difficulties of a legal and constitutional nature have hitherto prevented the introduction of the Bill. But these difficulties have been now overcome, and it only remains for the Legislature to deal with the Bill. the principle of which has been approved by the Secretary of State.

7. The Secretary of State has also expressed his approval of a suggestion made by the Superintendent of the Gaol in his annual report, that prisoners who have earned a remission of sentence should be placed, as in England, under the super- vision of the Police, so that if found returning to a criminal career they might at once be sent back to prison to complete their original sentences. A Bill giving effect to this recommendation will be laid before you.

8. A Commission appointed by me to report on representations made by the Superintendent on the overcrowded state of the Gaol has recommended the inflic- tion of whipping for certain offences. I have no authority for introducing a change in the law of such importance, but a Bill embodying the recommendations of the Commission has been prepared and sent home for consideration by the Imperial Government.

9. I have also forwarded for the consideration of the Secretary of State a Bill which was read a first time last Session entitled the European Vagrancy Ordinance. This Bill proposes to deal with those Europeans who are frequently landed or dis- charged from vessels in this port and who are either destitute or become so after a short period. As International questions are involved in this measure, it was with- drawn after the first reading, in order that it might be submitted for consideration by the Imperial Government before it was passed.

10. The Sanitary Board, which has been enlarged by the appointment of four additional Un-official Members, have had under their consideration for some time past the provisions of a Draft Public Health Bill which were included by the Surveyor General in a general Ordinance relating to Buildings, prepared by him a year ago. It has now been decided that it would be more convenient that the provisions originally proposed to be contained therein should be dealt with separately in two Bills, one confined to technical building matters only and the other relating to purely sanitary matters. I hope that both these Bills will be laid before the Council during the present Session.

11. Besides the Bills already referred to the following Draft Ordinances have been prepared by the Law Commission or by the Acting Attorney General, and are ready for consideration by the Council.

1. An Ordinance for enabling the Legislative Council and any Committee thereof to compel the attendance of and to administer oaths to witnesses.

2. An Ordinance to enable the Governor of Hongkong to appoint Com. missions under the Seal of the Colony and to confer certain powers on Commissioners so appointed necessary for conducting inquiries.

3. An Ordinance to amend the Laws relating to Wills,

4. An Ordinance to amend the Law respecting defamatory words and

Libel.

5. An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the Law of Evidence.

6. An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the Laws relating to Jurors

and Juries.