Sessional_Paper_1895 — Page 151

HONGKONG.

REGISTRAR GENERAL'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1894,

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

147

No. 15

95

REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 30th March, 1895.

SIR, I have the honour to forward herewith for your Excellency's information my report on the work of this department for the year 1894.

REVENUE.

The revenue collected during the year amounted to $82,456.86. In Table I. (A.), (B.), (C.) will be found a comparative statement of the revenue for 1893 and 1894, together with a detailed account of the revenue derived from boats and markets. The revenue for 1894 shows an increase of $699.21 - over that for 1893, which may be considered satisfactory in view of the fact that the Colony was visited during several months of the year by an epidemic of bubonic plague, which naturally had a prejudicial effect on the revenue and prevented the increase being as large as it otherwise would have been. The chief increase is in the revenue derived from markets, viz., $1,545.01, which is due to many of the holdings in the markets having become vacant owing to the decease of the holders and to higher rents being obtained when they were again put up to tender. The Taipingshan market was closed in July on account of the plague. The new Central Market is now approaching completion and will be soon ready for occupation. The Western market, which is the one most used by the Chinese population of Victoria, has seen its best days and ought to be renewed. It is to be hoped that when the new Central Market has been completed, the question of the advisability of erecting a new Western market will receive early consideration,

WOMEN AND GIRLS' PROTECTION ORDINANCE.

(No. 11 of 1890.)

Under instructions from the Secretary of State the sections of this Ordinance dealing with the registration of brothels were repealed.

Under Part II. of the Ordinance 167 women and girls were detained and were disposed of as shown in Table II. (A).

The number of girls handed over to guardians under section 19 of the Ordinance now amounts to 96 as compared with 111 in 1893. Table II. (B) shows how this number has been reduced.

The number of persons reported to be missing, shown in Table II. (C) is smaller this year than in 1893. This may be due to the check to emigration from this Colony caused by the plague.

Pó LEUNG KUK INCORPORATION ORDINANCE.

(No. 18 of 1893.)

The Ordinance incorporating the Pó Léung Kuk came into force on the 31st March, 1894, and has worked smoothly and satisfactorily. Owing to the existence of the plague and certain difficulties with regard to the proposed site, it has not been possible to commence the building of a new Home for women and girls, but it is hoped that the work will be commenced without much further delay.

FEMALE EMIGRATION,

The number of women, girls and boys passed by the Harbour Master's Department assisted by an officer from this department is given in Table III. The number passed was 6,455 as compared with 9,109 in 1893.