Sessional_Paper_1897 — Page 259

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The new Home was opened by His Excellency the Governor, Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, on the 13th November, in the presence of a representative assembly of Europeans and Chinese. The Viceroy of the Two Kuang and other proininent Chinese officials showed their appreciation of the Society's work by sending congratulatory tablets.

The Home, of which Mr. DENISON was the architect, consists of three blocks. The front block contains an Assembly Hall, a Committee Room, and Quarters for Clerks and Attendants. Behind this block are situated the two buildings in which the inmates reside and the Quarters for the Matron. These buildings, which are capable of accommodating 100 girls, were erected at a total cost of $23,479.13. Now that the Society has at last succeeded in obtaining a suitable Home, there is every reason to anticipate that it will be able to carry on its work still more effectively in the future than in the past.

As has been pointed out in previous reports, the l'ó Léung Kuk was for many years indebted to the Committee of the Tung Wa Hospital for supplying food to girls coming under its protection. This aid ceased on the opening of the new Home, the whole expenditure of which, including the cost of maintaining the inmates, has now to be defrayed from the funds of the Society. The expenditure to be met by the Society will accordingly be much greater in the future than formerly, but we have no reason to fear that it will not be fully met by the donations and subscriptions of the charitably disposed among the Chinese community of this Colony, who are interested in the work of rescuing women and girls, and who have already shown their readiness to aid by their subscriptions in having it carried on efficiently.

The number of women and girls admitted into the Home during 1896 was larger than in any previous year. A return is attached showing how those admitted have been dealt with.

The matron, Mrs. VICTOR, has continued to give satisfaction, and her salary was increased from $20 to $30 a month.

The

The visiting Justices during the year have been Captain ANDERSON, Hon. WEI A-YUK, and Mr. Ho FOOK. They have not only visited the Home at regular intervals, but have also made useful suggestions, from time to time, which have led to improvements in the comfort of the inmates. Society is indebted to Captain ANDERSON for having given a magic lantern exhibition in the Home which was much appreciated by the inmates.

Efforts have been made to obtain needle-work for the inmates in order to keep them occupied. Various Chinese shops have sent clothing to the Home to be made up by the girls, who have been encouraged to be industrious by distributing among them, according to the amount of work done, the money paid by the shops for making up the clothing. The Matron has also instructed girls in the use of the sewing machine, one of which was kindly presented by Mr. Ho Fook, and the members of the Elected Committee.

The Benevolent Societies of Canton, Macao and other places continue to co-operate with the Pó Léung Kuk in restoring girls to their relations and in other ways.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

President.

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Stamp

HO KAI,

Vice-President.

We, LAU WAI-CHUN and WAI LONG-SHAN, members of the Board of Direction of the Pó Leung Kuk, Incorporated Society, do solemnly and sincerely declare that the attached statement of the Assets and Liabilities of the above Society on the 31st December, 1896, marked A and signed with our names on the 22nd February, 1897, is a true statement, and we make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtue of the provisions of "The Statutory Declarations Act, 1835."

LAU WAI-CHÜN.

WAI LONG-SHAN.

Declared by the declarants LAU WAI-CHUN and WAI LONG-SHAN, at Victoria, Ilougkong, this 22nd day of February one thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven through the interpretation of MOK MAU-CHEUNG of Hongkong, the said MoK MAU-CHEUNG having been also first declared that he had truly, distinctly and audibly interpreted the contents of this document to the said declarants and that he would truly and faithfully interpret the declaration about to be administered unto them.

Before ine,

BRUCE SHEPHERD, J.P.,

Victoria.