Sessional_Paper_1902 — Page 688

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Pó LEUNG KUK INCORPORATION ORDINANCE.

(No. 18 of 1893.)

WOMEN AND GIRLS PROTECTION ORDINANCE.

(No. 9 of 1897 as amended by No. 14 of 1900.)

The report of the Pó Leung Kuk Society for the year 1901 has been forwarded to you. The present financial position of the Society reflects credit on all concerned. The subscriptions for the year amounted to $6,823.50, and the total revenue to $7,873.50. The expenditure was $7,656.31. There were 50 persons in the Pó Leung Kuk on the 1st January and 389 were admitted during the year. Of these, 187 were restored direct to parents or relatives or were sent to some Benevolent Society in China, 3 were adopted, 5 placed at school, and 50 were married. Investigation into the cases of 116 shewed that no action was desirable or necessary. The work entailed by investigation into so many cases is very onerous, and it is not infrequently tedious and disagreeable, but there has never been any difficulty in finding gentlemen willing to undertake the task.

Thirty-eight girls, of whom 14 were eventually found again, were reported to the Society as missing in Hongkong.

Three hundred and thirty-five women and girls were detained under Part II of Ordinance 9 of 1897, as compared with 298 in 1900. Table II (1.) shews what action was taken in each case, and Table II (B.) gives particulars as to girls who have been handed back to their guardians under security and on condition that they reported themselves at stated times to the Registrar General.

EMIGRATION.

Nine thousand seven hundred and sixty-two female passengers and boys were examined at the Harbour Office in 1901, as compared with 9,943 in the previous year. Of this number. 82 women were detained for enquiries, 73 of whom were found to have been persuaded to go abroad under false pretences. The usual arrangements were made to restore them to their relatives and friends. Emigration to the Straits Settlements was suspended for nearly four months during the prevalence of plague in this Colony.

CONTRACT CHINESE LABOUR IN BRITISH NORTH Borneo.

The negotiations with the British North Borneo Government relative to the advance of wages made to coolies proceeding to British North Borneo have resulted in the following arrangement. In future, the cost of bringing the coolie to Hongkong, housing him there, and providing him with a small outfit, will be reckoned as $10. $5 will be handed to him on board the steamer before leaving and $10 will be paid to him on his signing the contract on his arrival in British North Borneo. This secures the coolie $15 in cash out of a nominal advance of $25 and will, I hope, put an end to all difficulties,

CERTIFICATES OF IDENTITY TO CHINESE ENTERING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, &c.

The revenue under this head was $1,750, as compared with $11,100 in 1900. This large decrease is due to a much more rigid interpretation of the rules governing the immigration of Chinese, by the American Authorities. The wives and children of Chinese now resident in the States and of Chinese proceeding there with certificates, are no longer required to take out certificates themselves.

The number of certificates issued during the year was :-

To the United States,

To the Hawaian Islands,...

To the Philippines, .

POPULATION.

24

7

The following is the estimate of the population of the Colony on the 30th June, 1901 :—

British and Foreign Community.

20.096

Chinese. 280,564

MARRIAGES.

(Ordinance No. 14 of 1875.)

Total. 300,660

The number of Marriages solemnized during the year was 140, as compared with 125 in 1900.

BIRTHS AND DEATHS.

(Ordinance No. 16 of 1896.)

Table IV A. gives the number of Births and Deaths registered during the