Sessional_Paper_1902 — Page 909

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(d.)-PO LEUNG KUK.

This is a Society, under the supervision of Government, for the protection of women and children. It has done much good work in connection with the sup- pression of brothel slavery, which was in Hongkong and still is in China, one of the gravest social evils. If the Registrar-General, who acts as President of the Society, has reason to believe that a girl is being sold into a life of prostitution against her will, or if she is, in his opinion, of too tender an age to judge for herself as to her mode of life, she is sent into the Po Leung Kuk, where she is fed, lodged, and, unless she has relatives who will receive her, appropriately educated until she has an opportunity of making a respectable marriage or of earning an honest livelihood by her own exertions. The institution is managed by a number of Chinese gentle- men who are annually elected as a Managing Committee.

The number of women and children admitted into the Home during the year was 389, being 52 more than in 1900. 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.

(P.)—REFORMATORY,

The Belilios Reformatory, presented to the Colony by Mr. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G., has not been occupied. It has been proposed to make use of the building, with the donor's consent, by turning it into a School. The matter is at present under consideration.

(f)-SAVINGS BANK.

There is no Post Office Savings Bank in Hongkong. A branch of the Hong- kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation takes the place of such an institution in this Colony.

(9.)-POLICE.

The total strength of the Police Force, which stood at 630 in 1898, 827 in 1899, and 929 in 1900, now stands at 920, including 145 Europeans, 366 Indians and 409 Chinese. The gradual diminution in armed robberies and lawlessness in the New Territory made it possible to withdraw a number of men from that part of the Colony during the year to strengthen the force in the City of Victoria and Kowloon. The executive staff now consists of a Captain Superintendent, a Deputy Superintendent and two Assistant Superintendents. The conduct of all the con- tingents is reported to have been satisfactory.

Since the middle of the year, the Chinese Provincial Authorities have main- tained a force of soldiery along the northern boundary of the New Territory, who have co-operated with our Police in preventing the incursion of armed robbers into the Colony.

(4.)-PRISON.

The daily average of prisoners confined in Victoria Gaol was 499, as compared with 486 for the year 1900. There were 180 convicts in the Gaol on the 31st December, 1901, against 141 on the same date in 1900, 96 in 1899, 55 in 1898. This shows an increase of 125% during the past 3 years. This large increase is synchronous with and largely attributable to the inclusion of the New Territory in the Colony.

The total profit of all industrial labour amounted to $24,783 as compared with $17,458 for the preceding year. All minor repairs to the Gaol have been carried out by prison labour. A new wing was completed and occupied by long-sentence prisoners early in the year.

The question of extending the Prison accommodation in the Colony has been for some time engaging the attention of the Government.

The Superintendent of the Gaol is also Captain Superintendent of Police, and is assisted by an Assistant Superintendent, a medical officer, chaplains, and European and Indian warders.