Sessional_Paper_1900 — Page 397

EXHUMATIONS.

391

Seventy-six permits were issued to exhume human remains for removal to China or for re-burial in the Colony.

HOSPITAL Deaths.

Table IV D contains a return of the number of deaths in hospital. They amounted to 1,463 or 23.67 per cent. of the total number of deaths registered during the year.

Table IV E gives particulars regarding the Tung Wa Hospital. The number of patients under treatment during the year was 2,690 as compared with 3,019 in the year 1898. Of these, 1,684 were discharged and 852 li The percentage of deaths to admissions during the year was 33.52. In 1898 the percentage was 35.05, and in 1897, 35.24. The death-rate is thus steadily decreasing.

The number of out-patients during the year was :—

Males, Females,

......61,679 .28,403

Total,.....

...90,082

REGISTRATION OF BOOKS.

(Ordinance No. 10 of 1888.)

Forty-seven books were registered during the year as compared with 80 in 1898. Of these 27 were published at the Nazareth Printing Press.

REGISTRATION OF HOUSEHOLDERS.

(Ordinance No. 13 of 1888 Chap. III.)

Table V gives particulars regarding the issue of householders' certificates.

PERMITS.

(Ordinance No. 3 of 1888 Chap. V.)

The nature and number of permits issued during the year were as follows:-

To fire crackers,

To perform theatricals,.

To hold processions,.

.411

8

38

To hold religious ceremonies,

19

Total,...........

...476

SURETIES REFERRED FOR REPORT.

The number of sureties referred to this Department for report during the year amounted approx- imately to 907, and were from the following Departments :-

Botanical and Afforestation Department,.......

Harbour Department,

Magistracy,

Police Department,

Post Office,

4

..626

30

.172

75

Total,..........

.........907

DISTRICT WATCHMEN.

A full statement of the revenue and expenditure for the year is given in Table VI (4) and the state of the force on 31st December, and other particulars, will be found in Table VI (B).

The District Watchmen, were instrumental in bringing 307 cases before the Police Magistrate, and the Committee is again indebted to the Chinese Newspapers, the 73'un Wán Yat Pó and the Wai San Yat Pó, for continuing to publish weekly lists of these cases for the information of subscribers.