Sessional_Paper_1900 — Page 395

HONGKONG.

389

No. 20

1900

REPORT OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL FOR 1899.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government.

REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 7th February, 1900..

SIR,I have the honour to make the following Report on the work of this Department for the year 1899.

REVENUE ANd Expenditure.

The revenue collected during the year amounted to $135,248.65 as against $127,610.73 collected in 1898. Of the total increase of $7,637.92, the sum of $6,133.30 is derived from the Markets. The latter increase comes principally from the Central, Western and Saiyingpun Markets, and is due to the increased rent obtained from stalls, which were put up to tender on being given up by their holders. $944.03 of the increase is due to the opening of a market at Taikok tsui. There are sina!! increases under most of the other headings of revenue. The item "Certificates of Identity issued to Chinese proceeding to the United States of America," accounts for the principal decrease of $1,425. This decrease was anticipated by the Acting Registrar General, Mr. Brewin, in his report for 1898.

It is difficult to estimate in advance the revenue to be derived from this uncertain source, but it is not likely that there will be any decrease next year.

The expenditure during the year was $13,090.15 as compared with $13,128 in 1898.

PÓ LEUNG KUK INCORPORATION ORDINANCE.

(No. 18 of 1893.)

WOMEN AND GIRLS PROTECTION ORDINANCE.

(No. 9 of 1897.)

The Report of the Pó Léung Kuk Society for the Year 1899 has been forwarded to you. The expenditure for the year amounted to $7,448.57, while the revenue derived from interest and sub- scriptions was $6,155.30. The large figure reached by the expenditure is accounted for by the overdraft in 1898 on the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank of $2,359.40 and which has now been reduce to $1,293.27. The increase in the revenue is due to the generosity of the guilds which subscribe to the Tung Wa Hospital. Their subscriptions amounted to $4,005.30 for last year as compared with $1,836.95 in 1898, showing an increase of $2,168.35.

The number of women and girls detained under Part II of Ordinance No. 9 of 1897 was 248 as compared with 225 in 1898. Table II A. shows what action was taken in cach case, whilst Table II B. gives particulars as to girls who have been handed back to their guardians under security.

The number of girls reported to the Pó Léung Kuk as missing in Hongkong was 62. Of these 26 are reported to have been found.

The number of warrants issued under section 30 of Ordinance 9 of 1897 to search "sly bro thels" was 536, and 49 girls were rescued.

EMIGRATION.

The number of female passengers and boys examined at the Einigration Office and allowed to proceed to their destination was 6,307 as compared with $,497 in 1898. The number of women detained for enquiries was 49, and of these 46 were found to have been persuaded to go abroad under false pretences. Satisfactory arrangements have been made in each case to secure their welfare. During the prevalence of plague in the summer months, Chinese emigration to the Straits was prohi- bited, which accounts for the decrease in the number of persons examined.

My attention has been drawn to the fact that a large number of the women and boys, who have been found to have been kidnapped, come froin the King Chan district of Kwong Tung, and it is hoped a stricter surveillance may be exercised over emigrants from the port of Hoihow. At Pakhoi, where intending emigrants have to submit to an examination by the Customs authorities, the results are most satisfactory as regards the checking of the evil practice of kidnapping.