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the unusually large number of the members of the Chinese community who attended his funeral. Mr. LEUNG P'UI-CHI was appointed by the Governor to fill the vacancy in the Committee caused by the death of Mr. SHAM CH'EUK-T'ONG.

The Committee held nine ordinary meetings and one extraordinary meeting during the year. New Rules were drawn up under Ordinance 13 of 1888, Chap. IV, Section 19, with the advice of the Committee, for the regulation and guidance of the District Watchmen, and approved by the Governor in Council. Copies of these rules have been distributed among the contributors to the District Watchmen's Fund, by whom more interest seems to be evinced in and more assistance asked from the Force than formerly. The Committee has also had under consideration the improvement of the Force by an increase of the present rate of pay with a view to obtain a better class of recruits and by introducing a scale of rewards for especially good service in order to stimulate the efforts of the members of the Force to help to maintain the peace and good order of the Colony.

The Annual accounts of the Fund have already been published (see Government Gazette, Notific- ation No. 87.). The number of cases brought before the Magistrates by District Watchmen was 286, in all of which convictions were obtained. Most of these were cases of petty larceny and of unlawful possession. The Force consists of six Head Watchmen and forty-two Ordinary Watchmen, an addition of three men having been made during the year. Four watchmen have been dismissed and three have resigned. The vacancies so caused have been filled up.

LEGISLATION AFFECTING THE CHINESE.

Of the 15 Ordinances passed by the Legislative Council during the year 1892, there is only one which more particularly affects the Chinese, viz., Ordinance 3. Under it a fee of $1 is charged for the issue of a duplicate annual pass, and of 50 cents for the issue of a duplicate quarterly pass.

A Bill for the Incorporation of the Pó Léung Kuk or Society for the Protection of Women and Girls was read a first time and has been referred to a special Committee consisting of the Honourable C. P. CHATER, Honourable HO KAI, Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD, the Acting Colonial Treasurer (Mr. F. H. MAY,) and the Registrar General for report.

TRANSLATION WORK.

The amount of translation work has been about the same as usual. It consists of translations of Chinese petitions presented to the Registrar General and transmitted to the Colonial Secretary and other departments, the translation and revision of documents received from other departments, trans- lations of notices for the Gazette, the issue of notices in Chinese, and the translation of some Ordinances. In Table X will be found a return showing the number and subject of the Chinese petitions presented during 1892.

THE CHINESE RECREATION GROUND.

The buildings, etc., on the ground have been put in thorough repair by the Public Works Depart- ment at a cost of $416.89, the greater part of which amount was expended on making arrangements for providing water and on paving with granite the space inside the cooking stalls.

In December, 56 of the 81 small shops round the ground were let and 16 out of the 24 cooking stalls. The 20 tables set aside for letter writers were all let as was also the story teller's pavilion. For some time during the year the pavilion was rented by well-to-do Chinese who paid a lecturer to deliver lectures there.

Two Indian Watchmen and one Chinese are employed to keep order on the ground.

The revenue derived from the stalls, etc., during the year was $2,457.88, and the expenditure $1,161.13 of which the sum of $744.24 was ordinary recurrent expenditure. The balance in hand at the end of the year was $1,296.78 which goes towards paying off the loan of $6,000 advanced by the Government to cover the cost of levelling and planting the ground and erecting stalls.

STAFF.

Mr. MADAR was appointed Second Clerk in place of Mr. E. S. SUTTON, who was acting in that post. Mr. MoK LAI-CHI, Chinese Clerk and Interpreter, Mr. CH'AN U-TS'ÜN, Chinese Writer, and Mr. IP PING-KWAN, Chinese Clerk and Shroff, were dismissed. Mr. SUNG SING was promoted to the post of 1st Chinese Clerk and Interpreter. Mr. Lo MAN-YUK, was appointed to the post of 2nd Chinese Clerk and Interpreter, rendered vacant by Mr. SUNG's promotion. Mr. Ho WING-HO was appointed Chinese Clerk and Shroff, and Mr. Yau K'I-TUNG, Chinese Writer.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

The Honourable G. T. M. O'BRIEN, C.M.G.,

&c.,

Colonial Secretary, &c.,

&c.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Registrar General.